Six Swindon shops caught selling E-Cigarettes to underage children

Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, with the help of Wiltshire Police and the force’s Police Cadets volunteers, recently carried out test purchases to check retailers were following the law when selling e-cigarette products to those under the legal age of 18.

The enforcement focused on eight shops where Trading Standards had received intelligence from the local community, with six of the shops targeted selling e-cigarette products to the cadet volunteers.

Trading Standards officers also found that four out of the six products were not registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - all E-cigarette products in England should be registered in this way. Additionally, five out of the six products did not comply with the labelling and safety requirements for Nicotine Inhaling Products.

Swindon’s Trading Standards is currently still investigating these stores with a view to enforcement action.

Richard Bell, Swindon Borough Council’s Director of Strategic Development and Growth, Transport, Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “Trading Standards is becoming increasingly concerned about disposable vapes and their popularity amongst school-aged children who should not have access to them.

“Nicotine is highly addictive, and minors should not be exposed to or be experimenting with its use. It is also a criminal offence for the sale of e-cigarette devices to under 18s. It is also a criminal offence to purchase these on behalf of under 18s.”

Any information leading to the sale and supply of E-cigarettes or tobacco to underage children can be reported, anonymously, to Trading Standards at www.swillegaltobacco.info/report-it

Members of the public who see shops selling an age-restricted product to an underage child can act as the eyes and ears of Trading Standards in the community.

Anyone who has any concerns or would like further advice can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.