Ban for Belfast barber shop illegally selling tobacco and nicotine products

A Belfast barber shop has been handed a three-year ban on selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, including e-cigarettes and vapes.

The case against Sultan Barbers, based at Shaftesbury Square, was taken by Belfast City Council and heard at Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

Following complaints to Belfast City Council that Sultan Barbers was selling tobacco products to children, the council’s Tobacco Control Officers organised test purchase exercises. During these exercises cigarettes were sold to a child volunteer, despite the shop not being registered to sell tobacco and nicotine products.

Under the Tobacco Retailers Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, it is illegal for a retailer to sell either tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes and vapes) to anyone under 18. In addition, the shop was not registered to sell these products.

In addition to the three-year Restricted Premises Order, a Restricted Sales Order was also issued against the business owner, Mr Sultan Alsalem Alhamada, preventing him from selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products from any location for a period of three years.

Tobacco and nicotine-inhaling product legislation in Northern Ireland is enforced by district council Tobacco Control Officers, who support businesses to follow good practice and comply with the law.

In Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency’s 2025 research into vaping habits amongst young people indicated that 15% of children and teens vape regularly, and a fifth have tried a vape at least once. Of those who do vape regularly, only half reported having any issues purchasing nicotine inhaling products.

Health professionals agree that children and young people should not vape – these products can be highly addictive and cause damage to developing lungs and brains. The potential harm of long-term vaping is yet to be fully understood.