A COVENTRY store ordered to close down for three months after a Council investigation revealed it was selling illegal tobacco and vapes.
The Euro Mini Market, on Far Gosford Street, is the third store in the city to be issued with a closure order by the magistrates court for selling illegal products – and the second premises to be shut with the same landlords/owners.
The Council had warned the landlords and they carried on selling the products anyway, the Councils trading standards and legal services teams applied to the court for the order which was granted on April, 17.
Selling illegal cigarettes allows traders to avoid tax and not pay duty and VAT payments, with the products being so cheap it encourages children to start smoking at an early age.
Davina Blackburn, the Council’s lead on regulatory services, said: “We work closely with the police and other agencies to assist businesses in raising standards for customers and we have great success with the vast majority of traders in the city.
“There are always occasions when we find illegal activities or poor management of retail and other premises, and we will always use all legal powers to tackle the issue.
“We hope that the business operator takes the necessary steps to demonstrate changes over the next weeks and months.”
The store has been ordered to close for three months and no one is allowed to access the premises.
Costs over £3,500 were awarded to the Council.
A survey carried out last year by the Action for Smoking and Health Organisation found 20.5 per cent of children had tried vaping.
