Four Waikato retail outlets fail compliance test

Two Te Awamutu dairy owners, a Hamilton service station employee and a Hamilton dairy owner are facing possible prosecution and fines of up to $2000 after selling cigarettes to people under the age of 18.

Waikato District Health Board's Population Health Service health protection staff visited 12 retail premises in Hamilton, Pirongia and Te Awamutu this month, in a campaign to stop retailers selling cigarettes to people under age.

Targets were supermarkets, service stations and dairies.

Health protection advisor Nick Young said staff at eight of the premises visited, followed correct procedure and refused to sell cigarettes to the 15-year-old volunteer who was briefed to give their correct age when asked.

Mr Young will contact those retailers whose staff complied with the legislation to advise them of their employees' performance.

However, one service station employee and three dairy owners sold cigarettes to the volunteer and reports on these cases will now be sent to the Ministry of Health in Wellington.

The likely result for these retail outlets will be a warning or a district court prosecution under the Smokefree Environments Act 1990.

Mr Young said he was disappointed at the level of non-compliance (33 per cent) and further operations of this nature would be conducted on an ongoing basis. Employers and their staff members needed to ensure they were fully familiar with their obligations under the act.

Date: 23 June 2009

ENDS