| A man working in a Lancaster vape shop has been fined £916 for selling a disposable flavoured vape to a teenager without asking for her age. |
| Mohmed Bawla, of Thurnham Street, Lancaster, sold a nicotine inhaling product called a ‘Cherry Elf Bar’ to a 15-year-old girl at the store trading as Vape Plug on North Road in Lancaster city centre.
The 50-year-old was caught out by an undercover operation carried out by Lancashire Trading Standards officers in September last year. Appearing before Preston Magistrates Court, Bawla was fined £440 and ordered to pay costs of £300, as well as a victim surcharge of £176. Angela Lomax, Trading Standards manager at Lancashire County Council, said: “Trading Standards are committed to take action against shops who put profit over the health of young people in Lancashire. “It’s important that anyone who thinks they can get away with selling illegal vapes to underage people to realise that this is endangering the health of young people and it is against the law. “Our officers conduct frequent test purchases across the region, and anyone who is caught selling products illegally to underage young people risks prosecution, large fines and associated costs.” Anyone who has concerns about the sale of any age-restricted products can report these to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133. |
Lancaster shop worker fined for selling vape to underage girl
