OZschwitz injustice: 7-Eleven fined for selling cigarettes to kids

A Gold Coast retailer has been fined more than $3000 for failing to ensure his staff did not sell cigarettes to children.

7-Eleven franchisee Sre Ram Kumar Vegulla appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday after failing to comply with the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act, which prohibits the sale of cigarettes to minors.

Vegulla was found to have not properly trained an employee to request proof of age from customers.

The convenience store's parent company, V&V Australia, was fined a record $5000 and Vegulla was fined $3000. Both parties were ordered to pay $250 each in professional costs.

It is understood Vegulla was caught by Queensland Health's Tobacco Control Investigation Team, which monitors tobacco retail outlets.

Acting Health Minister Andrew Fraser said retailers and their employees had an obligation to prevent tobacco sales to children under the age of 18.

"Smoking rates of young school students aged 12 to 17 are far too high at 14 per cent, which equates to approximately 38,800 young people," Mr Fraser said.

"The earlier young people start smoking and the more they smoke over their lifetime, the more likely they are to suffer from smoking-related disease.

"(The) Government will continue to target retailers that illegally sell tobacco products to young Queenslanders."

Under the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998, retailers face a maximum penalty of $42,000 for offences involving sales to minors.

Any information on tobacco products being sold or given to children can be reported to the Tobacco Hotline on 1800 005 998.

LNK

OZschwitz injustice: 7-Eleven fined for selling cigarettes to kids

OZschwitz injustice: 7-Eleven fined for selling cigarettes to kids

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

AnCaps' Laissez-faire Free Trade Zone