Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Aberdeen bans cash sales of vapes and tobacco

Aberdeen bans cash sales of vapes and tobacco
iStock image
Getty Images/iStockphoto

Shops selling tobacco and vapes in Aberdeen could soon be required to only accept card payments for purchases of cigarettes, tobacco and nicotine vapour products including disposable vapes.

The city council’s communities, housing and public protection committee on Tuesday (5 September) approved the adoption of a Retailers’ Charter to control the access young people to tobacco and vaping products.


Councillors from the committee heard of the growing issues in the city of proxy purchasing of tobacco and vaping products, particularly single use vapes.

The Retailers’ Charter for the Responsible Sale of Tobacco and Vaping Products will attempt to work with retailers to highlight ways to spot and prevent this behaviour, whilst maintaining focus on existing legal responsibilities in respect of age restricted products.

“There is increasing public concern about young people accessing tobacco and vaping products and the negative effects that this can have on their health,” Cllr Miranda Radley, convener of the communities, housing and public protection committee, said.

“We need to continue to work with retailers to ensure that young people do not gain access to these products and ensure that retailers remain aware of their legal responsibility.”

The committee also asked council officers to implement the Charter in Aberdeen City, with initial focus on Union Steet retailers. The Charter is expected to be in action by the end of September.

Proxy purchasing is a criminal offence that can be enforced by trading standards, however it is hard to detect and prove when it is happening. In the whole of Scotland, enforcement action for a proxy purchase has only occurred once in the last 13 years.

So far, each reported incident has involved young people giving an adult cash to buy products. But, it is hoped the ban on cash sales could prevent future proxy purchases from taking place.

Trading standard officers believe young people may not be so willing to hand over their bank cards to strangers as opposed to cash.

(Kirstie Topp of the Local Democracy Reporting Service contributed to the report)

More for you

New benefits scheme for Fed members

New benefits scheme for Fed members

The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has launched an exclusive benefits scheme for Fed members.

Called FedPlus, the scheme offers a range of discounts on a host of goods and activities, from everyday purchases to luxury products.

Through FedPlus, Fed members will have access to a range of fantastic money-saving benefits covering a wide variety of areas – from health and well-being to home and car essentials, and from food and drink to fashion and tech, entertainment, travel and experiences.

There is a Savings Calculator to show how much has been saved, based on monthly or annual spending, on a range of everyday categories. The Savings Calculator will generate a personal savings total and provide links to the individual deals.

Launching FedPlus, National President Mo Razzaq said: “In my inaugural speech at the Fed’s Annual Conference in June, I spoke about the importance of providing more benefits to help members make money, save money and make business easier.

“Just four months on, we are delighted to bring you FedPlus. This is an exciting new addition to our ever-growing list of member benefits which brings you quick, at your fingertips access to several offers across a wide range of categories so the money in your wallets and purses goes even further in these financially strained times.”

Members can access the scheme through thefedonline.com website. It went live yesterday (October 31).

FedPlus is managed and run for the Fed by Parliament Hill Limited, which has been providing benefit management solutions for membership organisations for the past 20 years. Top name companies offering discounts include Virgin Experience Days, Nuffield Health, Hotpoint, Halfords, Boots, Curry’s and EE.

Tom Sparke, joint managing director and client services director at Parliament Hill, said: “We are looking forward to working with the Fed to assist them in the fantastic support that it provides for its members.

“The Fed has a strong commitment to supporting its members, which aligns with the Parliament Hill ethos of placing the needs of our clients’ members at the heart of what we do.”

Carlsberg Zero
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe

Carlsberg shifts marketing focus as drinkers choose cheaper beer

Brewer Carlsberg is shifting some of its marketing focus to cheaper brands, it said on Thursday (31), as consumers in major markets bought cheaper beer and in reduced quantities.

The maker of Kronenbourg 1664, Tuborg and Somersby said beer sales volumes fell by 1.3 per cent in the third quarter, noting declines in China, France and the United Kingdom. Premium sales fell 0.5 per cent in the quarter."In Western Europe, there's no doubt that the average consumer is holding back," CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen told Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less
sustainability, zero waste store, refil lzone
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock

Consumers value ethics though 'sustainability needs to be competitively priced'

Consumers now want a greater commitment from retailers in cutting food waste, refilling stations, sustainable packaging, and partnering with social purpose organisations, states a recent research, which also highlights that a good majority (69 per cent) of younger consumers are more likely to shop with what they see as socially responsible retailers though price sensitivity still plays a crucial role.

According to the findings, published in Vypr’s Consumer Horizon Report, reducing food waste is the most important factor for the majority of UK consumers (29 per cent), especially for Gen Z women aged 18-24 (38 per cent). More than a third (37 per cent) of men aged 18-24 said they needed food storage advice. A similar number of women aged 18-24 (33 per cent) want meal kits with the exact amount of ingredients included for them to cut down on food waste.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sugro-Wn-News.png
Sugro UK
Sugro UK

Sugro UK unveils new B2B digital enhancements to empower members, retailers

Sugro UK, the number one buying and marketing buying group*, in partnership with b2b.store, is thrilled to announce a further expansion of its existing E-Loyalty scheme programme, which has proven to be very popular with its members and retailers, by introducing E-Loyalty Extra Compliance and Execution scheme as well as E-Coupons.

The E-Loyalty Extra is aimed to boost compliance and execution at retail store level to drive new product launches, core range compliance, some exciting fixture trials with its supply partners and more! It will be available to all member owned and member affiliated retail stores within the group.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

iStock image

Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

Expanding its footprint in the World Foods category, Paulig has acquired Panesar Foods, a prominent UK-based producer of sauces and condiments.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Tipton, Panesar Foods is a family-owned business with three production facilities, employing 308 staff and achieving a turnover of £59 million in the 2023 fiscal year.

Keep ReadingShow less