HSA suspends licences of 10 tobacco retailers for selling cigarettes to minors

SINGAPORE — Ten tobacco retailers have had their tobacco retail licences suspended for six months after they were caught selling cigarettes to minors under the age of 18, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Monday (April 16).

They are:

- Hao Mart at 505 Canberra Link and 323 Tah Ching Road,

- M. R. Pasir Ris Minimart at 230 Pasir Ris Street 21,

- NYK Minimart at 365B Upper Serangoon Road,

- Noor Supermart at 468 Hougang Avenue 8,

- Rasul MiniMart at 108 Bedok Reservoir Road,

- Sai Mart at 144 Teck Whye Lane,

- MCP Fairmart at 135 Jurong Gateway Road,

- Chennai Store Pte. Ltd. at 456 Jurong West Street 41 and

- Luck Seng Coffee Stall at 115 Bukit Merah View.

The 10 were all first-time offenders.

They did not ask for any identification to check the buyers’ age, claiming that they were busy or that the minors were older than they were, and were caught by the HSA’s ground surveillance and enforcement activities.

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, anyone caught selling tobacco products to persons below the age of 18 can be fined up to $5,000 for the first offence, and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent offence.

In addition, the tobacco retail licence will be suspended for six months for the first offence, and revoked for the second offence.

However, the authority added that any outlet found selling tobacco products to under-18 minors in school uniform or those below 12 years of age will have their tobacco retail licence revoked, even at the first offence.

“(The) HSA takes a stern approach towards errant retailers and will not hesitate to take prosecution actions against them. Tobacco retail licensees are reminded that they are responsible for all transactions of tobacco products taking place at their outlets, as well as the actions of their employees,” said the authority.