Pub cigarette vending machine suppliers face prosecution
Four cigarette vending machine suppliers face prosecution over underage sales from pub machines in a landmark case.
Vending machine suppliers: facing prosecution
Two unnamed suppliers are being prosecuted by Salford Council and a further three — one of the same firms — by Lancashire Council. The prosecutions follow sting operations where under-18s were able to purchase cigarettes from machines in pubs and bars.
In Salford under-18 volunteers were able to buy cigarettes from 12 out of 15 tested venues. It is believed to be the first case of a prosecution against a supplier.
A Salford Council spokeswoman said: "The machines and the cigarettes are owned by the suppliers and we believe they have a care of duty to ensure they are not sold to under-18s.
"We are not saying that we won't prosecute breweries or pub companies in the future but this is where we are starting."
The case is set to be heard on 7 April.
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