Fines Increase But Tobacco Sales Continue
Posted: 3 November, 2009
On 1 July 2009 the maximum fine for a person who is found selling cigarettes to young persons under 18 years of age in NSW increased from $5,500 to $110,000. This reflects NSW Health’s determination to prevent the sale of cigarettes to people under 18 years of age.
“Maximum fines under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act for companies who are responsible for selling tobacco to persons under 18 has risen to $55,000 for the first offence and $110,000 for any offence thereafter”, said Mr Paul Corben, Director of Public Health for the North Coast Area Health Service.
“This legislation has been put in place to discourage tobacco retailers from selling tobacco to children, given that tobacco is particularly addictive if taken up at a young age. The only way for tobacco retailers to avoid incurring large fines is to obey the law,” Mr Corben said.
In a recent compliance monitoring program 5 out of 25 retail shops tested on the North Coast, did not ask for identification from a 14 year old person attempting to purchase cigarettes.
“No Identification , No Sale is the clearest advice we can give to retail shops that sell cigarettes. If all salespeople ask customers who appear to be under the age of 25 years for identification before selling tobacco products, then everyone should be able to comply with the law,” Mr Corben said.
NSW Health regularly monitors retail premises for compliance with the Act. If anyone observes the sale of tobacco to someone under 18 years of age, the offence can be reported to 1800 357 412 or to the Public Health Unit.
Attached: PDF of Public Health (Tobacco) Act compulsory signage.
For more information about the fines for selling tobacco products, see the website address:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/pha2008178/s22.html