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7-Eleven at Cineleisure banned from selling cigarettes

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The 7-Eleven convenience store at Cineleisure Orchard has had its tobacco retail licence revoked.

In a statement issued by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Monday (Sept 28), the authority said it has revoked one retail licence and suspended four retail licences of errant tobacco retailers found to have sold tobacco to minors under the age of 18.

It was the second time that the 7-Eleven employees were caught selling tobacco products to minors.

The first offence was back in 2011, which resulted in a six-month suspension of its tobacco licence.

The other four retailers have been prohibited form selling tobacco products for six months as it was their first offence.

The list of retailers are:

TABLE: HSA

The retailers were caught by HSA's surveillance and enforcement activities to curb the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors.

Photographs of errant tobacco retailers caught selling tobacco to under-18 minors. PHOTO:HSA

In its statement, HSA reminded tobacco retailers that they were "responsible for all transactions of tobacco products taking place at their outlets, as well as the actions of their employees".

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, anyone caught selling tobacco products to persons below the age of 18 as a first time offence can be fined up to a maximum of $5,000 and have their licence suspended for six months.

For subsequent offences, they can be fined up to $10,000 and have their licence revoked.

In the last three years, 39 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 18 were revoked.

HSA also warned: "Anyone caught buying or acquiring any tobacco product for a person below the age of 18 years, is liable on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $2,500 for the first offence and up to $5,000 for the second or subsequent offence.

"Similarly, anyone caught giving or furnishing tobacco product to a person below the age of 18, is liable on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $500 for the first offence and up to $1,000 for the second or subsequent offence.

"Between 2011 and August 2015, 70 people were caught for such offences."

HSA urged members of the public who have information on the illegal sales of tobacco products to minors to call the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 during office hours.

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