SINGAPORE - The 7-Eleven store at Cineleisure Orchard is no longer allowed to sell tobacco products.

Its licence was permanently revoked by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) after an employee was found to have sold tobacco products to minors under 18 years of age - the second time that this has happened at the outlet.

It was first suspended for six months in 2011.

"Despite its previous conviction, the outlet continued to commit the offence, resulting in its licence being revoked. It will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products," the HSA said in a statement on Monday (Sept 28). The worker, it added, was caught during the authority's ground surveillance and enforcement activities.

Four other errant retailers - Hwa Soon Heng Mini-Supermarket, Tastebud Foodcourt, J Plus Ten Mini Mart and Nice Minimart - had their licences suspended and will not be able to sell tobacco products for six months as this is their first offence.

In its statement, the HSA also reminded tobacco retailers that they are responsible for all transactions taking place at their outlets, as well as for the actions of their employees.

"HSA urges all tobacco retail licencees to educate their employees on the law pertaining to the sale of tobacco products and for sellers to check the age of those who wish to buy tobacco products," it said.

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, anyone caught selling tobacco products to people below the age of 18 can be fined up to $5,000 for the first offence and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences.

The retailer's tobacco licence will be suspended for six months for the first offence and revoked for the second.

In the last three years, 39 tobacco retail licences were suspended and 18 were revoked.

HSA encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal sale of tobacco products to under-18 minors to call the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 66842036 or 66842037 during office hours.