SINGAPORE — The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has suspended the tobacco licences of six errant retailers for six months for selling cigarettes to minors aged below 18.

Five of the retailers — Lullie Mart, Ramadan Mini Mart, One Family Pte Ltd, TKT Minisupermart and Huang Restaurant — had their tobacco retail licences suspended sometime between March and September this year, while the sixth retailer, a 7-Eleven outlet in Tampines North Drive, had its licence suspended as of yesterday.

The employees at the retail outlets had failed to check the ages of the minors before they sold the tobacco products to them. As a result, they were caught by the HSA’s routine surveillance and enforcement activities.

The retailers were convicted in court and fined between S$1,500 and S$2,000 each.

The authority has urged tobacco retail licensees to educate their employees on checking the ages of those who intend to purchase tobacco products.

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, those caught selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 are liable for a fine of up to S$5,000 for the first offence and S$10,000 for each subsequent offence.

Retail outlets will also have their licences suspended for six months for the first offence and revoked for subsequent offences.

A retailer’s licence will be immediately revoked if it is discovered that it has sold tobacco products to under-18 minors in school uniforms or to those aged under 12.

In addition, members of the public who are caught providing or giving tobacco products to minors under the age of 18 will also be liable for a fine of up to S$500 for the first offence and S$1,000 for each subsequent offence.

A total of 38 people have been caught for such offences between 2011 and July this year, the HSA added. ELGIN CHONG