A HAYES shop owner was ordered to pay more than £1,300 for selling vapes containing nicotine to children.

It followed an investigation by Hillingdon Council’s trading standards team.

Ravi Kumar, of RK Convenience Store, 1182 Uxbridge Road, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

Last August, during an undercover operation conducted by the council team, a child aged 13 entered RK Store and successfully bought an Elf Bar 600 disposable vape from Kumar. 

The court heard the store had also been the subject of an investigation in March 2022 following a report from a member of the public. 

Kumar had received a written warning and training materials to help him comply with the law. 
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “Vapes should only ever be used as an aid for adults to quit smoking.

“The evidence suggests that vaping is by no means risk-free and that’s why we’re doing everything we can to stop our young people getting access to and using e-cigarettes.

If you suspect a business is selling age-restricted products to under-18s, you can email tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk or call 01895 250164 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).