A Warrington business has been fined more than £1,200 for selling vapes to an underage customer as part of an operation by Warrington Borough Council.
On Wednesday 12 March, Warrington Magistrates Court ordered Navid Obaidi, 24, of Woodlands Road, Manchester who runs a vape business from premises at 8 Bridge Street, Warrington, to pay £660.00 in fines, £300.00 in costs and £264.00 victim surcharge.
Mr Obaidi pled guilty to the charge of selling an age-restricted product to an underage person under the Children and Families Act 2014 as well as additional charges of supplying a non-compliant vaping product under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
Warrington Borough Council visited premises across the town, including Mr Obaidi’s, as part of a test purchasing operation on Thursday 1 August 2024. It was during this operation that Mr Obaidi sold the disposable vape to an underage 15 year old volunteer. The test purchase attempt was carried out following complaints that the business was selling vaping products to persons under 18.
Mr Obaidi failed to ask for identification, proof of age, or ask the volunteer how old they were.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for environment, housing and public protection said: “Our public protection team works hard to keep communities in Warrington safe and businesses must follow strict processes to ensure underage children cannot purchase age-restricted products.
“In this case there were no procedures in place which resulted in the sale being made. We will continue to respond to community concerns in this area, prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents and our young people.
“Retailers must understand that selling age-restricted products to minors is a serious offence, potentially leading to fines and even imprisonment, and it is crucial to take all reasonable precautions to avoid such sales”.
To report concerns or suspicions that a shop is selling tobacco or vape products to underage children call 0345 04 05 06 or visit warrington.gov.uk/underage-sales
