By Samantha Jones-
A shopkeeper has been fined £400 and ordered him to pay £1,028 in costs to Trading Standards, along with a £160 surcharge, after pleading guilty to selling a vape to a 13 year old girl.
Badir Munir Shah, who ran the store at the time, appeared in court facing charges related to the sale of e-cigarettes to a minor and supplying e-cigarettes that did not comply with product requirements.
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Shah initially pleaded not guilty, asserting that the girl appeared to be older than 18, and claiming ignorance about the illegality of selling a vape of that type.
However, Trading Standards argued that, legally, the responsibility lies with the shop owner.
The prosecutor stated, “From a legal point of view, it is your shop, and your responsibility. There was a product in your shop that cannot lawfully be sold in this country.” The defense’s assertion that the girl looked older and that the shop staff were unaware of the product’s illegality was considered unlikely to succeed in court.
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Ultimately, Shah changed his pleas to guilty, acknowledging that the sale should not have occurred and expressing regret. Shah, who is currently unemployed and dependent on his wife’s income, highlighted the financial limitations that could impact his ability to pay any fine.
The incidence highlights the importance of robust age verification measures and adherence to product regulations within the vaping industry.
A court spokesperson told The Eye Of Media.Com : shop owners to stay informed about the legality of the products they sell, emphasizing the responsibility they bear for compliance with regulations to ensure the safety of consumers, especially minors.
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