// News

Shop caught in cigarette Sting

02 September 2013

Trading Standards officers have called against a shop after a 15-year-old girl bought cigarettes at the store.

The volunteer was sent into Barnett news, in Waterloo Road, Burslem. The worker failed to ask for any ID and she successfully bought a packet of 10 cigarettes.

Trading Standards officer Charlotte Coleman, who helped carry out the sting said:

The male who served the volunteer was on his mobile all the time. At no time did he look at the volunteer or ask her for identification.

Conditions could now be attached to shops licence, including better training and a refusals book.

Sharon Taafe, of health improvement at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

It is vitally important we concentrate efforts on reducing the availability of tobacco to young people.

The licensing sub-committe will consider the breach on Monday September, 2.

Source: The Sentinel, 23 August 2013