Owner of Gordon newsagency, Jin Zou, caught selling child a vape

A store owner sold a vape to a 14-year-old – only to realise the child was undercover, working with the Sydney Public Health District.

Gordon Newsagency in Sydney's north.

A 14-year-old was used as bait in an undervover compliance test, entering a newsagency and buying a vape without being asked for identification.

Jin Zou, 60, from Chatswood, pleaded guilty to selling a tobacco product to a person under 18 years of age and faced Hornsby Local Court.

According to court documents, an undercover 14-year-old volunteer, working with Sydney Public Health, conducted a compliance test at Gordon Newsagency on December 19, last year.

The court heard this was the second time Zou had committed this offence.

Magistrate Alexander Mijovich said the maximum penalty for this offence was a $50,000 fine, and chided Zou, pointing to a previous offence.

“Why didn’t you learn your lesson nine years ago when you came before the court for the same offence in 2014?” Mr Mijovich said.

The court heard the teenage boy entered the store and asked Zou, “What flavour of vapes do you guys sell?”

Zou lifted a brown cardboard box and displayed a variety of e-cigarette flavours, according to court documents.

IGET brand Peach Pineapple Lime vape.

The teenager chose an IGET brand “Peach Pineapple – 4000 puffs” and Zou charged $25 without asking for the child’s age or identification.

An Environmental Health Officer was in proximity and confronted Zou, who claimed she was “too busy” to identify the child.

The vape package had a warning stating it was strictly for people aged 21 or older and NSW Health claimed the vape Zou sold contained nicotine, according to court documents.

Zou told the health officer she had only two vapes for sale under the counter; however 15 were later found.

A vape fact sheet, outlining the very many health risks. Picture: NSW Health

Representing herself, Zou required a Chinese interpreter as she told the court she was “willing to accept the penalty”.

The court heard Zou’s business had been difficult to run during the Covid pandemic – having been the owner for 15 years.

“If you couldn‘t be bothered to understand the obligations, then you need to deal with the consequences,” Mr Mijovich said.

“You decided to sell to a 14-year-old”.

Zou was convicted and fined $5000 – 10 per cent of the max penalty.

“If you couldn‘t be bothered to understand obligations, then the consequences need to be dealt with.”