Government looking to boost trading standards powers in fight against youth vaping

The Department of Health and Social Care is to launch a review on allowing Trading Standards to issue 'on-the-spot' fines and fixed penalty notices more easily to shops selling vapes to children.  

A review on banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s will also be conducted, and a loophole that allows the vaping industry to give free samples of vapes to children in England is set to be closed under new plans to clamp down on youth vaping.

In a statement announcing the reviews, the Government said the proposal for on-the-spot fines will aim to complement existing fine and penalty procedures and, where possible, cover both illegal and underage sales for vapes and tobacco.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said: "There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options."

He added: "Closing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under 18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry."

The plans follow the announcement in April of £3 million of funding which has been provided to create a specialised 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' to implement the rules on vaping and tackle illicit vapes and underage sales.

The 'squad' will undertake projects such as test purchasing in convenience stores and vape shops. It will also produce guidance to help build regulatory compliance and will have the power to remove illegal products from shops and at our borders.

In a recent  Survey conducted by Action on Smoking and Health of 11 to 17-year-olds, 2 out of 5 young people said they smoke vapes "just to give it a try", and about 1 in 5 because "other people use them so I join in".

Adam Carey