The illegal cigarette continued to burn, quickly releasing deadly fumes, including cyanide, which would have killed her within a minute.
Julie Grant has been vociferous in her calls for a crackdown on the sale of the illegal cigarettes ever since, but believes the authorities’ hands are tied when it comes to dealing with dodgy shopkeepers who sell them.
She said: “Unlike alcohol, there is no legislation in place requiring a retailer to have a licence to sell tobacco products.
“This seems ludicrous as it allows any retailer to sell cigarettes and tobacco without being checked.
“In my opinion that is feeding the sales of illicit goods.”
Julie has set up a petition calling for tobacco retailers to be licensed by the local authority, as those who sell alcohol are.
Those who breach the terms of the licence would risk being banned from selling tobacco products.
She is hoping to attract 100,000 signatures which would trigger a debate in Parliament.
Julie, who owned and ran the Butters outdoor shop in Spalding’s New Road before her retirement and now lives in Swineshead, has the backing of some members of South Holland District Council licensing committee.
Coun Harry Drury said: “The licence to sell alcohol and related conditions are of course undermined by some as we have seen across the district and indeed the country, but, when caught the police and the licencing authority can take appropriate action to prevent individuals or businesses from breaking the law again.
“Implementing licensing of retailers of tobacco, in my personal opinion, will not completely solve the issue of resale of illicit cigarettes overnight, but will give the relevant authorities more control over who is allowed to sell tobacco and where they are allowed to sell it.”
Julie’s petition is available to sign at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/187881.
