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As part of its ongoing program to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to individuals under 18 years of age, Wyndham City recently conducted tobacco test purchasing throughout the municipality.
To carry out this initiative, the city employed a Test Purchase Assistant who was underage and not permitted to lie about their age or use fraudulent identification while attempting to purchase tobacco products.
During a testing blitz in April, the city randomly selected 27 tobacco retailers for assessment. Only one of the businesses sold cigarettes to the undercover minor, which represents a significant drop in sales rates compared to previous test days.
The Mayor of Wyndham City, Cr Susan McIntyre, emphasized the importance of retailers and employees ensuring compliance with the Tobacco Act 1987 and not selling tobacco or e-cigarette products to those under 18 years of age.
Cr McIntyre noted that educating businesses and enforcing this obligation when necessary is one of the responsibilities of Environmental Health Officers. She also stressed the need for all Wyndham businesses to inform their staff about the significance of requesting identification when selling tobacco.
Retailers who break the law risk receiving an infringement notice of $740 or prosecution in the Magistrates Court, which carries a potential fine of up to $11,096 and the loss of their right to sell tobacco or e-cigarette products.
The council will continue to participate in the test purchase program and is strongly committed to preventing young people from accessing and using tobacco or e-cigarette products and being exposed to their marketing.
For additional information regarding the Tobacco Act, individuals may refer to the Department of Health Tobacco Unit at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/tobacco-reform or contact Wyndham’s Environmental Health Unit at (03) 9742 0738.
