Lincoln E-Cigarette Company Fined for Selling Nicotine Products to Children

An e-cigarette company in Lincoln has been fined more than £3,500 after it was caught selling nicotine products to children.

Underage volunteer test purchasers working with Trading Standards entered E Cig Outlet (UK) Ltd and on two occasions bought nicotine-containing e-liquid products.

After the first incident, in November 2015, the business on St Mary’s Street received a written warning and was advised of its legal responsibilities.

But the business was caught again in February.

An investigation by Lincolnshire Trading Standards revealed that the company had failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent the sale of nicotine inhaling products to anyone under 18.

Senior Trading Standards officer Daniel Brown said: “I hope this prosecution sends a clear message that selling nicotine inhaling products to children is completely unacceptable in the retail sector.

“Research suggests that e-cigarettes may act as a gateway to tobacco cigarettes, and the long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes are still unknown.

“Lincolnshire Trading Standards works to ensure businesses are aware of changes in the law and understand their responsibilities to protect children by making sure such products are not sold to underage people. If this advice is ignored, businesses risk prosecution, as in this case.”

E Cig Outlet (UK) Ltd was fined a total of £3,516 at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

And Naim Nazir, 44, one of the company’s three directors at the time, pleaded guilty on behalf of himself and his company and was also personally fined £200.

The court was told that since the incidents, the business has taken the necessary steps to prevent sales to minors.