Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Taranaki retailers face tobacco fines

Media Release

January 31, 2017

FOUR TARANAKI RETAIL OUTLETS FAIL COMPLIANCE TEST

Four Taranaki retailers are facing possible fines of up to $5,000 after selling tobacco to a person under 18 years of age.

Taranaki District Health Board’s Public Health staff visited six retail premises in New Plymouth during January as part of a Tobacco Control Purchase operation to identify and stop retailers selling tobacco to people under the legal age.

The retail premises targeted had all been previously visited by Public Health staff, at which time the need for identification and age checks were reinforced with each retailer.

Smoke-Free Enforcement Officer, Nicky Simmons said “Staff at only two of the retail premises visited had followed correct procedure and refused to sell tobacco to the 16 year old volunteer when they were unable to provide identification.”

Mrs Simmons has contacted those retail premises whose staff complied with the legislation to advise them of their employees’ performance.

However, four employees of tobacco retailers were caught selling cigarettes to the under age volunteer. Reports on these cases have been sent to the Ministry of Health in Wellington, whose policy is to either issue an infringement notice in the form of a warning or a fine, or to prosecute in appropriate cases.

Mrs Simmons said “We are disappointed with the four tobacco sales to a person underage in Taranaki and hope this serves as a warning to all tobacco retailers that breaking the law will not be tolerated.”

Further operations of this nature would be conducted on an ongoing basis, so employers and their staff members need to ensure they are fully familiar with their obligations under the Smokefree Environments Act.

ENDS


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.