Two Greenwich businesses have been fined thousands of pounds after selling vapes to underage children.
Two teenage test purchasers were sold vapes at UZI Mobile and Vape in Eltham, following complaints from residents and parents about children buying the products in May 2024.
Then, in August 2024, a 16-year-old test purchaser was also sold a vape at Thamesmead Post Office.
A further investigation also discovered that 385 illegal alcohol sales had been made between 6am and 9am at the Thamesmead Post Office.
The premises was not permitted to sell alcohol between these hours and will now have its alcohol licence taken away.
Yogesh Patel, the shop assistant who made the sale at Thamesmead Post Office, and business owners Jitendra Patel and Niki Jitendra Patel pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court and received a total of £9,716 costs and fines.
Meanwhile, the former owner of UZI Mobile and Vape, Nasir Ahmad and staff member Mr Ziyrmal Safi, who sold the vapes, were found guilty and fined a total of £1,020 costs and fines.
Mr Ahmad stated during the trial that he had not been in control of the business at the time as he was in the process of selling it and no longer held the key for the premises.
Despite this, the court found he was still legally responsible and had failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent underage sales.
The offences come just weeks before shops will be banned from selling or supplying disposable vapes.
All stock must be sold or safely disposed of before June 1.
Greenwich councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, in charge of 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.
“To make sure residents are safe and feel safer, we will continue to hold businesses accountable by enforcing licensing conditions which are there to protect the public.
“Businesses which are prepared to sell dangerous products to children can expect to face criminal sanctions, hefty fines and the removal of licences.”
