Eight Bay of Plenty shops have been busted selling tobacco to an underage person during a recent Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service operation.

The worst result was in Ōpōtiki where three out of seven shops visited sold tobacco to the underage teenager. The retailers caught in the operation have each been fined $500.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack in total 54 shops were visited and fortunately 46 shopkeepers complied with the law by asking the underage teenager for proof of their age and refusing to sell tobacco to them.

'I am very disappointed that across the Eastern Bay there was a total of eight sales of tobacco to an underage teenager. There is clearly much room for improvement.

'It's against the law. No one should be selling tobacco to anyone under the age of 18.”

A Controlled Purchase Operation involves an underage person asking to buy tobacco from retailers under controlled conditions.

The purpose of a CPO is to reduce the impact of tobacco related harm, especially in young people, by checking retailers' understanding and adherence to tobacco legislation. This includes not selling to anyone who is under eighteen years of age.

Prior to the operation visits were made to tobacco retailers reminding them of their responsibilities under the Smokefree Environments Act 1990.

This legislation prohibits the sale of tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years and also bans smoking in enclosed areas of workplaces, hospitality venues and public buildings.

'It is pleasing to see that the majority of the tobacco retailers visited are meeting their legal responsibilities and refusing to sell to children.

'The retailers that sold tobacco to someone underage have each been fined $500. This should serve as a caution that Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service takes the matter seriously and we run regular checks across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts.”

For more information about tobacco legislation or to make an enquiry visit Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service website at: www.ttophs.govt.nz/tobacco