A Clydebank shopkeeper has been fined £200 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court selling cigarettes to a 16 year old boy in February last year. Ashfaq Ahmed, 42, of Glasgow pled guilty following an undercover operation organised by West Dunbartonshire’s Trading Standards section after many complaints about trading practices in his shop at Fleming Food Store, Whitecrook.
Councillor Craig McLaughlin, spokesperson for Corporate Services said: “It is encouraging to see our Trading Standards team working hard to combat this type of behaviour, and I hope Mr Ahmed’s conviction will act as a deterrent to others who are or may be tempted to sell age restricted goods to children.”
The shop was subject of a test purchase in February 2009 and Mr Ahmed himself was observed selling cigarettes to a 16 year old without making any checks as to his age. Nicky Johnston, Trading Standards Officer said: “Mr Ahmed was the subject of numerous complaints, commonly from concerned parents and community leaders that he would sell cigarettes to kids with no questions asked. Mr Ahmed’s behaviour in the aftermath suggested that he cared little about what he had done.”
Nicky Johnston went onto say “Following his conviction I hope Mr Ahmed has learned his lesson and adopt a more responsible attitude. Steps will shortly be taken to check if he has desisted from these actions and if not Trading Standard’s Officers will have no hesitation in reporting him to the Procurator Fiscal once again.”
Last year officers from Trading Standards carried out 60 test purchases to ensure shopkeepers and their staff were not selling goods to underage shoppers. Members of the public can contact Trading Standards on 01389 738282 and by email trading.standards@west-dunbarton.gov.uk if they have concerns of illegal practices in their area.
