Wairarapa retailers clear cigarette sting

During the April school holidays an underage volunteer attempted to buy smokes from 15 Wairarapa retailers, who refused to sell to the teenager.

A recent controlled purchase operations in Wairarapa resulted in no sales from 15 retailers tested.

During the April school holidays an underage volunteer approached 15 retailers in Wairarapa.

Smokefree enforcement officer Nicky Poona congratulates those retailers.

"Preventing the uptake of smoking by minors is an important focus in achieving a Smokefree New Zealand by 2025."

These controlled purchase operations were completed as part of a Lower North Island joint operation. Smokefree enforcement officers from Wellington, Wairarapa, Palmerston North and Hawke's Bay visited 88 outlets.

All but six complied with the law, with 20 per cent of Wellington and Hutt Valley retailers failing to ask for identification, and other breaches in Whanganui.

The offending premises had all received education visits before the controlled purchase operations which made their breaches more disappointing, a Ministry of Health representative said.

"Generally the results of retailers visited across the lower North Island were excellent and highlight the awareness of compliance among tobacco retailers of the Smokefree Environments Act 1990," the representative added.

Tobacco Control Purchase Operations monitor the level of compliance by tobacco retailers with the Smokefree Environments Act requirement that no tobacco products be sold to any person under 18. Any breaches of this act can result in an instant fine of up to $1000.