A Clydebank trader has been banned from selling tobacco and vapes in West Dunbartonshire after selling products to a 16-year-old.
West Dunbartonshire Trading Standards has banned a Clydebank retailer from selling tobacco and vapes after they sold products to an underage customer.
As well as witnessing the shop sell a vape to a 16-year-old volunteer, officers found that the store was not operating an Age Verification Policy by checking photographic ID of any customer appearing to be under the age of 25. Fixed penalty notices were issued for both offences. A third fixed penalty was issued as the trader sold a nicotine vaping product to an 18-year-old volunteer without asking for photographic ID.
Following the enforcement action, West Dunbartonshire Council was successfully granted a Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Banning Order following a hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and the sanction was imposed on the shopkeeper.
The Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product banning order will be in place for 12 months from 19 May 2026 and is displayed within the shop. It must remain there for the duration of the banning order.
Convenor of Corporate Services, Councillor William Rooney said: “The trader received multiple fixed penalty notices warning of a serious breach of trading standards. Despite these clear warnings, they failed to comply, leaving us no choice but to act swiftly and firmly to stop this illegal activity. I would like to thank the parents and volunteers who raised this with our Trading Standards team and worked together to enable the enforcement action that has resulted in this banning order.”
Vice Convener of Corporate Services, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, said: “Keeping our residents safe — particularly young people — is a top priority, and this enforcement action has been essential in achieving that. I hope this serves as a clear warning to any business considering selling to underage customers: take responsibility, think seriously about the harm this can cause, and be aware of the serious consequences.”
- Alert Trading Standards to underage tobacco sales activity using SCOTTS’ anonymous reporting form
