Croydon Council has prosecuted a trader for selling a vape to a child.
The owner of Mobile and Vape on Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, was found guilty of the offence during a test purchasing exercise.
Lalbaz Safi, the shop owner, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court on November 25, 2024, and was fined £600.
Mr Safi also admitted to selling non-compliant vapes, which exceeded the permitted nicotine levels, lacked a health warning, and did not have UK contact details, as required by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
For this offence, he was fined an additional £400.
Mr Safi was also fined £280 for selling hair products that did not have a batch number or display contact details, in violation of the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013.
A victim surcharge of £512 was imposed, and costs of £3,000 were awarded to the council, bringing the total financial penalties to £4,792.
A forfeiture order was made in relation to the seized products.
The sale offence occurred on February 13, 2024, during a test purchasing exercise conducted by the council’s trading standards team.
The remaining offences were the result of a seizure of 104 suspected non-compliant vapes and other items, including 93 hair dye products, on November 14, 2023.
The district judge noted that the underage sale was the most serious offence and that there were no safeguards in the shop to deter underage sales.
Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: “Our trading standards team is the best in London, as we work with residents and traders to make sure items that are sold in the borough meet safety regulations.
“Making Croydon cleaner, safer, and healthier is my priority, and we will continue to take enforcement action where traders breach their legal duties.”