Monash Bulletin - 14 August 2007

Tough Penalties for Selling Tobacco to Minors

Test purchasing in the City of Monash has revealed tobacco retailers are increasingly coming under fire for flouting the law by selling cigarettes to minors.

Ms Middleton said of the 30 retailers tested in the municipality, eleven were issued with infringement notices and two received warning letters.

"Council regularly undertakes test purchasing visits throughout the year. We carried out two days in July and the results were very disappointing," she said.

Under the Tobacco Act 1987, it is an offence to sell tobacco products to people under 18 years of age and penalties range from a $200 on-the-spot fine to $5,240.50 if the matter goes to court. Repeat offenders may be prohibited from selling cigarettes in the future.

From 1 March 2006, the law to enforce the ban on tobacco sales to young people was strengthened by making sighting photo identification the only defence for selling tobacco to a minor. It also clarified that a manager/proprietor is liable when an employee or agent in their shop sells tobacco to a minor.

Evidence suggests access to cigarettes is a very important factor in the uptake of smoking by young people and restricting the supply of tobacco products to young people, is a proven strategy for helping to reduce the prevalence of youth smoking.

"Research has shown that 80 per cent of smokers start before they turn 18, and the younger a person is when they start smoking, the more likely the chances of becoming addicted to nicotine," said Ms Middleton.

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Published: 13 August 2007

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