Walsall shop to pay more than £2,000 following underage vape sale
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A Walsall shop has been ordered to pay over £2,000 by Dudley Magistrates’ Court after selling a disposable vape to a person under the age of 18.
DSL Loha Ltd, trading as The Plug, located at 67 Park Street, sold a strawberry kiwi Elf Bar to two 16-year-old volunteers on 12 March 2025. The seller, Mr Pamkag Mehta 24, from Smethwick, completed the £3 sale without asking for identification or attempting to verify their age.
Trading Standards had provided the business with comprehensive advice on two occasions prior to the test purchase, including written guidance, Challenge 25 posters, and a refusals register. When officers returned immediately after the sale, the register was not present. The business owner, Mr Dharmendra Singh, initially claimed he had never received one.
Mr Singh claimed that Mr Mehta had worked at the premises for only ten days and a few times a week, yet officers had regularly seen him working there. No staff training records were available, and the business could not demonstrate that adequate training on age-restricted sales had been provided. Mr Singh was also unable to explain the principles of the Challenge 25 scheme, despite acknowledging that he had received advice on it.
“ We take breaches like this very seriously, and this case highlights the consequences for businesses that fail to follow the rules.
“A £3 sale has now cost those involved thousands of pounds, but with the law being so simple, I have no sympathy.
“We provided the store owner guidance and offered help multiple times, but this was ignored.
“We will continue to work with local retailers to ensure they understand their responsibilities to keep our community safe. “
DSL Loha Ltd pleaded guilty to the offence at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on December 3, 2025, and was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £1,828.44 and a victim surcharge of £176. This resulted in a total cost of £2,428.44.
Mehta, the physical seller, would not engage with Trading Standards, failed to attend interviews on two occasions and did not attend court.
Mehta was ordered to pay a fine of £660, costs of £1,812.43 and a victim surcharge of £264. This resulted in a total cost of £2,736.43.
Walsall Council continues to take firm action against retailers who fail to comply with age-restricted sales laws and will pursue legal action where necessary to protect young people.
ENDS
