The ABC has the truly remarkable news that:
Almost half of Canberra businesses inspected have been caught selling cigarettes to children.
As RiotACT is amongst the we suspect large group of Canberra businesses that don’t even sell cigarettes our minds boggle as to which software consultancies and hairdressers are moonlighting in the ciggie trade.
Sadly it seems the Government tactic of recruiting teenagers to try and entrap store owners is working beyond expectation:
“The use of underage purchase assistants is common practice in a number of other jurisdictions around the country,” he said.
“It’s the first time it’s been used here in the ACT and it’s already proving its worth by catching out a significant number of retailers.”
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Half of those inspected. Doesn’t equate to half the businesses in Canberra.
Just wondering just how underage these teenage ‘Purchase Assistants” look? I’ve seen some pretty Adult looking teenagers in my lifetime.
Rawhide Kid Part3 said :
I was able to buy booze and smokes with relative ease when I was 15
Rawhide Kid Part3 said :
Doesn’t matter, as a business wouldn’t it make more sense to ask more people for ID and not get in trouble, then ask no one for ID and get a smack?
9 out of 24 (37.5%) isn’t “almost half”
I hope the teens don’t spend their earnings on smokes…
I could certainly name and shame a few businesses that I used to rely on, but I’m not going to, because kids need places like that. How else will they get drunk and make poor decisions?
My parents sent me into shops to buy cigs for them. I can remember doing that when I was 7. Mum smoked Rothmans and dad smoked Salem. They both gave up smoking in 1985. Dad died at 71 while Mum is still alive at 82.
Incredibly it wasn’t until 1995 that cigarette sales were banned to people under 18. At the same time cigarette sponsorship of sport was banned, hence the end of the Winfield Cup NRL competition.
I was buying my own cigarettes at 13, when the legal age was 16.
I was buying my own alcohol at 14.
Some businesses will turn a blind eye to make a profit.
Bit harsh. How are bogan’s meant to get their smokes if they can’t send their kids down to the shops for them?
Cost benefit equation is questionable or maybe not!
My understanding of how this works is the teenager recruited to entrap said tobacco peddler is attended by no less than three government employees. One who ensures the youth is not in harms way whilst the other two observe and document the interaction/transaction.
Great use of resource dollars however that said the offence does come with a hefty $22,000 top end penalty.
Tobacco Act 1927
Supply of smoking product to under 18 year olds
(1) A person commits an offence if the person—
(a) sells a smoking product to a person who is under 18 years old;
and
(b) is reckless about whether the person to whom the smoking
product is sold is under 18 years old.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
If nine venues were hit that is a potential $198K… if I was one of the teenagers doing this I would be hitting them up for a little more.
OverLord said :
+1 better to send the kiddies down to the shops on their pushies than for them to get in the ute/commodore drunk and drive themselves!
Flippant said :
Important to note that the cost of a penalty unit has increased from $110 to $170, so that’s a maximum penalty of $34,000
i’m awaiting the lawsuits from the teenage snitches in say 30 years time when the emphysema kicks in.
Its a small step from purchasing to trying ‘just one’…
Its also curious that they target just tobacco, and not alcohol or *illegal drugs*. Its almost as if it was a religious war being fought.
Roundhead89 said :
And who said smoking was bad for you!!!
damien haas said :
You will find they can only target tobacco because of current legislation.
Also, i don’t think i could name 24 places in Canberra where you could buy cigarettes.
Henry82 said :
Every Woollies, Coles, Supabarn and IGA. Further, every service station, club, pub and milk bar/take away.
There, I’ve done it for you.
damien haas said :
There is similar policing of alcohol sales. I’ve been in two different outlets when they’ve been assessed.
It does seem that it’s not so heavily publicised by the Gubmint.
Duffbowl said :
Hmm… This statement is totally wrong, there is no legislation that allows the government to use kids to purchase alcohol, like they can with the kids.
buzz819 said :
What they aim for is breaches under the Responsible Service of Alcohol guidelines. This doesn’t require an adolescent to attempt to purchase, just someone who looks like one.
Duffbowl said :
What? Do you even know what you are talking about? There is no offence for selling alcohol to someone who “looks” like they are under age, it is only an offence if they are under age.
Trust me, when it comes to this topic I am an expert, so half baked ideas aren’t going to get you any where.
CaseyRyback said :
Yes it is. It’s 3/8ths. That’s only one eighth away from half!
resident_weevil said :
Stop being ignorant, it’s also 30/80ths, that’s a whole ten eightieths away from a half!
damien haas said :
Aside from the fact that they wouldn’t be allowing these traitors to keep the goods, how exactly do you think they can tackle illegal drugs using children? I could maybe name a few names, but again I’m not going to. I depend on these people for the intoxicants the Government has arbitrarily decided I’m not entitled to use.
Pork Hunt said :
Pork Hunt I believe this little piggy has stayed at home too much of late and your bacon has not graced one of Canberra\’s drinking establishments in quite a while.
Vending machines are BANNED
Smoking indoors is BANNED
Smoking outdoors is BANNED or subject to strict guidelines enabling a venue to have a Designated Outdoor Smoking AREA (DOSA)
The sale of cigarettes are subject to strict guidelines and are contained behind blank cabinets not to be viewed by consumers.
So why would a licensed venue sell something that cannot be used or consumed on their premises. That doesn’t doesn’t make good business sense now does it?
These days smokers are turfed out to the fringe public areas adjoining venues and kept a bay by burly door man to ensure their fetid smoke does not affect their O2 only compatriots.