By ANEEKA SIMONIS
DODGY tobacco retailers in Cardinia Shire have felt the expensive force of the law with some fined up to $9100 for breaches including supplying cigarettes to minors.
In an undercover sweep of tobacco stores, Cardinia Shire Council used children between 15-16 years of age to test retailer’s compliance with underage sale legislation among other requirements.
As it turns out, many did not pass the test – and are paying big bucks because of it.
Of those tested during the undercover operation, 35 per cent of tobacco retailers in the municipality were caught handing out cigarettes to minors.
Council’s Environmental Health Department commissioned kids to test 59 stores over four days in March and April this year, resulting in 21 breaching tobacco legislation.
As a result, 19 infringement notices were served against the seller or employer ranging from $607 to $9100.
Council’s manager for Development and Compliance Services Debbie Tyson said: five employees were also issued with formal warnings and an employer was also penalised for not providing up-to-date training for staff.
She said four tobacco retailers were penalised after almost selling cigarettes to minors used in the test.
In Casey, four businesses were busted selling tobacco to minors during the 2015-’16 financial year.
