Child vape sales 'concerning' for Wiltshire Trading Standards

Wiltshire Trading Standards has told Greatest Hits Radio it's concerned by the growing issue of vapes being sold to children in the county.

Retailers selling vapes in Wiltshire are being advised to ensure they're challenging young people attempting to purchase products in their shops.

It follows a Salisbury vape shop being ordered to close for three months, after being caught selling a vape product to a child.

Rob Green is a senior trading standards investigating officer and told us it's a worrying trend.

"Where we receive complaints on a weekly basis. I would say from concerned parents and schools, community groups that children are accessing vapes," he said, adding that they can go on to cause issues such as anti-social behaviour and littering.

Rob continued: "We're getting much higher yield of complaints than we have done for quite some number of years in terms of underage sales."

He said complaints come to them from parents and businesses who observe competitors breaking the law by making these sales.

Rob is urging all premises selling vapes to have a 'think 25 policy', where shops challenge a customer's age and asking for identification.

"Have a good look at their identification," he said, "Think about the kind of identification that may be given to you.

"Make sure it is bona fide and even then, if you are still in doubt about the legitimacy of the identification has been presented to you, you have every right to refuse that sale," Rob added.

Wiltshire Trading Standards carry out undercover test purchases following complaints from the public.

Rob said that shops are informed about the complaint when it is made and provide them with advice.

He also warned that selling a vape or e-cigarette item to a minor is a criminal offence, which can see individuals and businesses prosecuted.

Anyone who suspects a shop of selling an illegal product to a child can report it via the MyWilts app or the Citizens Advice helpline.

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