Anglesey Council’s Trading Standards Team has been working with Island businesses to tackle the problem of underage vaping.
Shop keepers have raised concerns that children as young as 12 are seen vaping on the streets after getting members of the public to buy vapes for them.
Officers recently visited all shops that sell vapes to give advice and assistance to shop keepers. They were reminded that it is a criminal offence to sell vapes containing nicotine to children under 18 years old, and the importance of asking for ID from anyone they believe to appear to be under the age of 25.
Following which a test purchasing exercise was carried out, with 24 out of 25 businesses (96%) passing the test and refusing the sale. An investigation is ongoing in relation to the one failure.
Intelligence suggests that most children who vape are obtaining vapes through proxy sales, whereby an adult (often family) buys the vapes for them. The public are advised that purchasing age restricted vapes on behalf of someone who is underage is an offence.
Shop keepers are advised that they have a responsibility to refuse to sell age restricted items if they suspect it is being purchased on behalf of an underage child and have the right to ban the individuals concerned from their shop.
The increased use of vapes by children is a huge concern, especially as information would suggest that children who have never smoked are trying vaping. Although vapes are considered a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, their true long-term effects remain unknown. The bright colours, attractive flavours and pocket money prices make them attractive to children, however, the nicotine content of some vapes is stronger than standard cigarettes, making them even more addictive and difficult to quit.
Anglesey’s Chief Public Protection Officer, Trystan Owen, said, “These products are extremely popular at the moment, but the number of complaints that Trading Standards are receiving has also risen.”
“Vapes and e-cigarettes are intended to help people stop smoking, but their use by children is of huge concern for the wellbeing of future generations. Anglesey Trading Standards are working with businesses to prevent underage sales but need adults to act responsibly and not buy these vapes for children.”
“We have undertaken several seizures of illegal disposable vapes from shops on Anglesey over just 2 days, amounting to more than 2300 vapes, with a retail value of over £30,000. The maximum permitted tank size for these products in the UK is 2ml which equates to approximately 600 puffs. Items seized were found to contain between 3000 and 9000 puffs or 10-30ml.”
“These colourful, sweet flavoured vapes, are cheap and clearly targeted at children. The 3500 puff products, retail between £6-£14 each, have a nicotine content equivalent to over 170 standard cigarettes / 8.5 packets. Some of the products seized contained more than double this. Our officers will continue to crack down on these illegal products.”
Any Anglesey businesses which have illegal vape products currently in stock are being offered the chance to do the right thing, if they proactively contact Anglesey Trading Standards within the next 2 weeks to forfeit the products for destruction, no further enforcement action will be taken against the business for the products forfeited.
Public Protection portfolio holder, Councillor Nicola Roberts, added, “It has been a busy few months for our Trading Standards officers, who continue to work with partner agencies to take these illegal and harmful products off the streets”.
“The popularity of disposable vapes has exploded, and the growing trend of young people vaping for the first time is also concerning.”
“Research may show that vaping is much less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but the health message remains that if you have never smoked, you should not take up vaping”.
Residents and businesses alike are urged to report any concerns regarding underage sales, proxy sales or non-compliant vape products on Anglesey to safonaumasnach@ynysmon.llyw.cymru
Ends 4.5.23