Business · Oxford
Oxford shisha lounge operator fined following illegal tobacco seizure
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
The operator of an Oxford shisha lounge has been ordered to pay over £1,000 after pleading guilty to multiple tobacco offences following a council inspection.
A restaurant and shisha lounge operator in Oxford has been penalised by the courts after an investigation revealed a range of illegal tobacco products were being supplied to customers. Karim Elmoheen, the operator of Mint Kitchen & Lounge on Temple Street, appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court on 11 September 2026, where he entered guilty pleas to three separate tobacco offences.
The legal action follows an inspection by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards officers on 23 February 2025. The visit was part of a broader programme of compliance checks targeting premises that supply shisha products across the area. During the operation, officers discovered that 116 unit packs of waterpipe tobacco, weighing over 35 kilograms, were being sold in breach of UK regulations.
Inspectors noted that many of the products failed to display the mandatory health warnings required by law. Furthermore, some items featured packaging that referenced prohibited tastes, flavours and smells. Officers also found significant quantities of tobacco that had been decanted into unlabelled containers, making it impossible for consumers to verify the product or its health risks.
The court heard that the business had been given formal advice and guidance during a previous visit by trading standards in August 2024. Despite this prior intervention, the premises continued to supply non-compliant products.
Magistrates imposed a total financial penalty of £1,008 against the operator and the company, Aywarestaurants Ltd. This included a combined fine of £360, a total of £144 in victim surcharges and £504 toward the costs of the prosecution. In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of all seized tobacco products for destruction.
Davina Walkin, the council's trading standards operations manager, stated that the business had failed to follow the guidance provided previously. Councillor Kate Gregory, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, emphasised that tobacco legislation is essential for ensuring consumers are fully aware of health risks, noting that many individuals mistakenly believe shisha is less harmful than cigarette smoking.
Members of the public who have information regarding the illegal sale of tobacco in the region are encouraged to contact 0300 999 6 999 or submit a report anonymously via the website www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
Source: Oxfordshire County Council · View original