Investigation reveals child, 15, can buy nicotine vapes in Weymouth & Dorchester
It's an offence to sell them to anyone under the age of 18
A test purchasing exercise, organised by Dorset Council Trading Standards has found that nicotine ‘vapes’ are being sold to underage customers.
During the checks a 15-year-old volunteer was able to buy the restricted items at three premises of the 11 tested. Investigations are continuing at those premises, and it highlights the need for more vigilance in protecting young people from nicotine and its addictive properties.
The test purchases were made as part of a response to information that vapes were being used in schools by under 18s. It is an offence for a business to sell nicotine vapes and e-liquids to anyone under 18 years old. It is also an offence for someone to buy them on behalf of an under 18. Advice had been provided to most of the stores tested beforehand, which were in Weymouth and Dorchester.
Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, said:
“While most businesses refused to sell, the results are still disappointing. We advise all businesses to make sure their staff are confident in asking for, and checking, proof of age.
“And that they have policies in place to challenge young people buying restricted goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or these vaping products.”
Chris Ricketts, Head of Programmes at Public Health Dorset said:
"Whilst vaping often plays an important role in supporting people to quit smoking, we are very concerned about the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s and the marketing and positioning of products that makes vaping attractive to young people.
"It’s great that fewer and fewer people are smoking nowadays, and it feels like the crippling effects of tobacco could soon be behind us, but we don’t want future generations unnecessarily addicted to e-cigarettes instead."