Kalar Mini Market in Ruabon closes for three months due to illegal cigarette and vape sales.
Trading standards officers applied to the court, reporting numerous illegal sales, including cigarettes and vapes. The shop will remain closed until April 29, 2025, and the doors are now locked.
Councillor Hugh Jones addressed the issue, highlighting the increasing trend of vaping, particularly among young people. Soon, new laws in both Wales and the UK will control illegal vapes and tobacco. Wales aims to be smoke-free by 2030.
The sale of illegal products raises significant concerns, and authorities will utilize their powers to protect young people. Cheap cigarettes facilitate addiction among children and hinder quitting attempts for adults. Disposable vapes also present dangers to kids.
Discarded vapes pose environmental hazards and have been implicated in fires. Jones expressed his support for the shop’s closure. This closure affects both the business owner and the property owner, who suffers a loss due to the inability to use or rent the property.
Landlords should take note: if their tenants violate the law, they risk losing the use of their property. The court is authorized to order such action.