Greenwich businesses hit with fines for selling vapes to children
Greenwich council has fined two businesses for selling vapes to underage children.
Staff members from Thamesmead Post Office on Arnott Close and UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court last month to offences under the Children and Families Act 2014.
In August 2024, a 16-year-old ‘test purchaser’ was sold a vape at Thamesmead Post Office.
After further investigation by the council, it was also discovered that there were 385 illegal early morning alcohol sales when the premises was not permitted to sell alcohol.
This resulted in the store having its alcohol licence taken away.
Shop assistant Yogesh Patel who made the sale, and business owners Jitendra Patel and Niki Jitendra Patel pleaded guilty in court on April 23, and received a total of £9,716 costs and fines.
In another case, Greenwich council received complaints from concerned residents and parents that children had been seen buying vapes from UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham.
In May 2024 two 16-year-old volunteers working for the council were sold vapes at the store.
The former owner of the store Nasir Ahmad and staff member Ziyrmal Safi – who sold the vapes – were found guilty on April 24, and fined £1,020 in costs and fines.
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “This is another example of the council’s no-tolerance approach to the illegal sale of vapes to children.
“Nicotine vapes are highly addictive and should only be used by adults to help them stop smoking, that is why it is a criminal offence to put vapes in the hands of young people.
“Businesses which are prepared to sell dangerous products to children can expect to face criminal sanctions, hefty fines and the removal of licences.”
To report the illegal sale of vapes or tobacco products, please contact tradingstandards@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or you can report it anonymously on the London Trading Standards website.
Pictured top: UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court last month to offences under the Children and Families Act 2014 (Picture: Greenwich council)
