West Belfast shop fined £2,250 over ‘nicotine inhaling products’ sales
The owner of a Belfast shop has been fined more than £2,000 for charges including selling ‘nicotine inhaling products’ to a person under 18.
Gerard Fitzpatrick, of Fitzy’s on the Falls Road in West Belfast, was found guilty at the city’s Magistrates’ Court of one charge relating to the sale of nicotine inhaling products to children under the age of 18 and two for not being registered to sell tobacco.
News of the convictions was announced in a statement from Belfast City Council. They said that “following complaints made to Belfast City Council, Tobacco Control Officers carried out visits to the premises”. They added that “test purchasing confirmed the shop was selling nicotine inhaling products to under 18s”.
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The shop was banned from selling tobacco and nicotine products for two months in June after it was found to have sold the items to under 18s. Today at court, Mr Fitzpatrick was fined a total of £2,250 made up of two fines of £750 each for being a ‘Tobacco business as unregistered person’ contrary to Article 10 of the Tobacco Retailers Act 2014 and one fine of £750 for selling a ‘Nicotine product to person under 18’ contrary to article 3 of the Health and Personal Social Services Order.
The Belfast Council statement added: “Under the Tobacco Retailers Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, it is illegal for a retailer to sell either tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes/ vapes) to anyone under the age of 18. It was also established that Fitzys was not registered to sell tobacco products.
“Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland. Belfast City Council is committed to making retailers aware of their legal responsibilities around the sale of vapes and tobacco products, particularly to under 18s.
Anyone who has concerns or information about illegal, or underage sales of such goods should report it to the Belfast City Council Tobacco Control Team on 028 9027 0428.”
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