A Wyndham City operation designed to prevent the sale of tobacco to children has resulted in a number of businesses receiving warning notices and infringements.
Between January and July 2021, 51 randomly selected tobacco retailers were tested as part of Wyndham's ongoing commitment to prevent the sale of tobacco to those under the age of 18.
The operation was part of Wyndham's commitment, along with Municipal Association of Victoria, to undertake tobacco safety related activities such as test purchases for tobacco retailers.
Test Purchase Assistants under the age of 18 years old visited businesses with the aim of purchasing tobacco or cigarettes. They were not allowed to lie about their age or present fraudulent identification in the process.
Seven businesses sold tobacco to the Test Purchase Assistants, resulting in staff being fined $661 each.
Wyndham City Mayor and Healthy City portfolio holder Cr Adele Hegedich said: "It's important that when it comes to something as serious as selling tobacco to a minor, that Wyndham businesses are on the same page in protecting the health of our community."
"While it was encouraging that most businesses complied with the law, it is disturbing that cigarettes were still being sold to those under the age of 18."
Wyndham City officers also made 140 educational visits to businesses to ensure adequate staff training on tobacco laws had been completed and that official training records were kept up to date.
"The outcome of these visits and this testing process can serve as a reminder to all Wyndham businesses about how vital it is to provide effective training of tobacco laws to staff, and the requirement on asking for identification when selling tobacco," Cr Hegedich said.
"This is a reminder to all Wyndham businesses to inform their staff of the importance of asking for ID when selling tobacco."
"It's also important that everyone is on the same page in protecting the health of our community."
