A shop owner in West Wickham has been fined after selling a vape to a minor, following an investigation by Bromley Trading Standards. The incident occurred at MVE Mobile Vape Exchange on High Street, where a 14-year-old volunteer was able to purchase an Elf Bar 600 puff ‘grape’ vape without being asked for identification or challenged by the seller.
Complaints had been raised to the council, prompting Trading Standards to conduct a test purchase with the underage volunteer. The sale was completed without question, leading to legal action against the store.
At a hearing held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, Mr Raj Kumar Nanda, director of Vape & Mobile UK Limited, admitted on behalf of the company to selling the vape to a minor. The company was fined £1,000, with additional costs of £423 and a court surcharge of £400, bringing the total penalty to £1,823.
Councillor Page, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement, commented on the case, saying, “This conviction sends a strong message to all that this is a serious matter. Our Trading Standards team works in support of local businesses to ensure they are aware of their obligations to protect young people and to help protect themselves by asking retailers to challenge anyone who appears under the age of 25.
The council has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting young people from the unlawful sale of age-restricted products and emphasized its readiness to take enforcement action when necessary.
Residents are encouraged to report any concerns regarding the sale of age-restricted products to minors by contacting Bromley Trading Standards or Citizens Advice.
For more information, residents can email [email protected] or call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.
