Shops selling vapes to under-18s face £2.5k fines
Six out of 29 shops visited by trading standards were found to have sold e-cigarettes to underage buyers
Shops which are found to continually sell vapes to under-18s in Gloucestershire face being taken to court and a fine of £2,500.
Trading standards carried out operations at 29 shops in early August, where volunteer 15 and 16 year olds attempted to buy vapes.
At six of the shops they were able to do so.
Officers from trading standards targeted shops which had been alleged to sell vapes to children by concerned parents, schools and members of the public.
The six shops are in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Dursley and Cirencester.
Aware of the law
Trading standards say they’ll be revisiting those shops to remind them of the law on selling vapes to under-18s.
They’ll then make further unannounced checks in the coming months. Any shops found to still be selling e-cigarettes to children face the fine.
Disposable vapes cost between £4 and £8. They’re thought to be appealing to under-18s because of their flavours and bright colours.
Its worried young people who begin vaping may become addicted to bicotine and take up smoking in the future.
“Disappointing” results
Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for trading standards, said: “The results of this survey have been disappointing. While it is good to see that the majority of retailers are acting responsibly there seems to be a small number who continue to flout the law.
“Our trading standards officers will now be advising these retailers to ensure they do not sell any products containing nicotine to under-18s and they could be taken to court if they continue to do so.”