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First prosecution in NI of business over underage vape sale

First prosecution in NI of business over underage vape sale

The first prosecution in Northern Ireland for the sale of an e-cigarette to a child aged under 18 has led to a fine this week for a North Belfast shop owner.

At Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday (January 17) Jonathan Johnston, of Wee Mo’s, Alexandra Park Avenue, pleaded guilty to illegal sale of nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes/vapes) to a child under 18. He was fined £250 with additional court costs.


The case was brought by Belfast City Council after an officer from the council’s tobacco control team organised a test purchase exercise on the premises. During the test purchase, a sale of an e-cigarette was made to a person under 18. This is the first case in Northern Ireland of its kind.

In 2021, Jonathan Johnston and Wee Mo’s made headlines after speaking out about a robbery in his shop.

He descibed a man entering the shop armed with a knife and demanding money from the 17-year-old staff member working at the counter. The only other person in the shop at the time was an 11-year-old customer.

The man made off with a few hundred pounds from the till. Mr Johnston said the event had “destroyed two kids’ lives.”

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