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March 30, 2023 - 6:00 AM
Interior Health is catching businesses red-handed selling tobacco products to people under 19.
Seven fines have been issued this month so far, most recently catching Skogies Auto Spa in Kelowna.
It's part of the health authority's "minor test shopping" program to enforce tobacco and vape sales in the region after pausing enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. It started with a fine against Kelowna's downtown Safeway location on March 2.
Darth Vapour in Vernon, a Co-Op gas station in Armstrong, Urban Fare in Kelowna, a Sorrento Petro-Canada and The Bargain Shop in Sicamous have all be fined with the help of a young secret shopper this month.
Interior Health told iNFOnews.ca Safeway's ticket is $575, but each store will have the opportunity to challenge the fine.
"Interior Health follows a progressive enforcement approach and prior to issuing a ticket, the retailer will receive a warning letter with no fine," a spokesperson said.
The health authority hires young shoppers, usually between ages 15 and 17, to test stores that carry tobacco products. Their enforcement officers work closely with the young shoppers and issue fines if they manage to buy the product.
The test shopper program runs throughout the year and most retailers get one or two visits from secret shoppers each year, according to Interior Health.
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