Traders across north and West Cumbria have been targeted in undercover stings to clamp down on underage vape sales.
Cumberland Council’s Trading Standards Service ran the test purchasing operation over the last 10 days in Maryport, Wigton, Carlisle, Whitehaven and Workington.
It is a criminal offence to sell vapes to under-18s or buy them on their behalf. Traders found to be breaking the rules risk being prosecuted and fined up to £2,500.
In Carlisle and Wigton, 26 premises were visited and two made sales to under-18s. In Workington, eight premises were targeted and three made sales to youngsters; in Maryport six traders were visited and three sold vapes and in Whitehaven, the 12 shops visited did not sell a vape to an under-18.
Cumberland Council said its Trading Standards team also saw a steep increase in harmful, non-compliant, products on sale in shops.
Colin Cox, director of public health and communities, said: “Our Trading Standards officers work proactively with local businesses to ensure they have the appropriate training and test purchasing logs in place and that they’re aware of the law.
“It is a criminal offence to sell nicotine-based e-cigarettes to under 18s and investigations will continue into the people and businesses who sold the products to our underage volunteers.
“We would like to thank our Local Focus Hubs and the police for sharing intelligence regarding retailers suspected of selling vapes to under-18s. We’d also like to thank our partners, and parents, for sharing any complaints or concerns.
“We have run multiple test purchasing operations during the summer holidays and we will continue to work with businesses to ensure they remain on the right side of the law and to hold repeated rule breakers accountable.”
