The owner of a shop that sold a vape to a 14-year-old child has been fined £200 following an investigation by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards.
On 16 May at Thames Magistrates Court, Mohammed Ferdhaus, who runs Cloudz Vapez on Roman Road in Tower Hamlets, pleaded guilty to one count of selling an e-cigarette to a person under 18 years. The company was fined £200 by the court with a £100 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,301.83 costs.
The vape that was illegally sold to a 14-year-old
The illegal sale occurred during an underage sales test purchasing exercise carried out by Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards and the Met Police on 3 October 2022. The law prohibits the sale of vapes that contain nicotine to people under the age of 18.
The sale of the Magic Bar Strawberry Ice disposable e-cigarette was made to a 14-year-old, who was not challenged to prove their age.
The vape cost £5 and the packaging was marked with the warning that it contains nicotine and was for over-18s only.
Cllr Kabir Hussain, Tower Hamlets Council Cabinet Member for the Environment and the Climate Emergency, said: “Vaping is not harmless as it still contains nicotine, which is addictive and can have some negative effects on brain development in children and young people.
“This is why it is so important that young people are prevented from buying e-vapes and e-cigarettes.
“We will continue to carry out these test purchases to ensure our young people are kept safe from those who put their own profits above others’ health.”
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