On September 5th, according to Australian media outlet Kidspot, a toy store in Melbourne, Australia, has sparked social controversy by selling e-cigarettes and cigarettes next to children’s toys and shoes. According to local laws, if a retailer is found to be selling tobacco products to minors, they could face fines of up to AUD 9514.
A Kidspot reporter visited a toy store located in Melbourne that primarily sells products aimed at children, including games, toys, and collectibles. The website features items such as Disney, Winnie the Pooh, and children’s shoes.
Beneath the storefront’s shop name on the front, there is a large neon sign that reads “We sell cigarettes”.
Some netizens have also shared another children’s toy store that sells e-cigarettes, which advertises American candies, gifts, cigars, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes on its windows. The netizen believes that “there has been an emergence of numerous stores selling e-cigarette toys across Melbourne.
She stated that this is a loophole that allows merchants to sell e-cigarettes next to toys and children’s products, even though these e-cigarettes often contain illegal nicotine.
In the state of Victoria, Australia, it is illegal for businesses other than pharmacies to sell liquid e-cigarettes or e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Retailers in Victoria are not required to obtain a tobacco sales license but must ensure that tobacco products are not sold to customers under the age of 18.
Retailers found selling tobacco products to minors may face fines of up to $9,514.
