North Somerset Council is warning members of the public about the dangers of illicit vapes, following the recent closure of a shop linked with the sale of harmful, illegal tobacco and vape products.
The council is now urging all residents, including parents and carers of young people, to be aware of the potential dangers of illicit vapes following several high-profile cases of people being taken ill in Weston-super-Mare after consuming them.
Sold by unscrupulous vendors, unregulated products can carry considerable health risks as they are often unsafe and can potentially be laced with harmful substances.
Following a number of investigations by Trading Standards teams and the seizing of hundreds of unlicensed, unregulated tobacco and vape products across the region since 2024, retailers and landlords are also being warned against the illegal selling of harmful tobacco and vapes in North Somerset. Under current legislation, if illegal products, including tobacco products and vapes, are found at a property from which landlords are receiving rent, they may be at risk of “proceeds of crime” action (under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002).
Over the past three years, North Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team has seized more than 3,600 illegal vapes, 4,700 packets of illegal cigarettes, over 67kg of hand‑rolling tobacco and more than 100 sachets of shisha tobacco. This work has already resulted in the closure of two premises, multiple licence reviews and a prosecution that is currently pending, as the council continues to take a zero‑tolerance approach to the sale of illegal and harmful tobacco and vape products.
Speaking of the closure of the premises in St James Street and North Somerset’s action on illegal products being sold, Cllr James Clayton, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Regulatory Services said: “North Somerset Council has taken sustained enforcement action against a premises in St James Street, Weston-super-Mare, following repeated incidents of illegal tobacco and vape sales. Leading up to the closure of the premises last week, officers carried out multiple seizures of illegal cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and vapes, alongside covert test purchases and large-scale enforcement operations. Investigations also uncovered several instances of vapes being sold to underage children. This persistent pattern of offending formed the basis of the police case presented at a closure order hearing at Weston Magistrates’ Court.
“I remind commercial landlords that they need to be careful who they rent out their retail premises to. I would also suggest that all local retailers should take the opportunity refresh and strengthen their refusals systems that are designed to prevent underage sales. Trading Standards will continue its ongoing checks to ensure that age limits are adhered to.
“There can be no safe haven for this sort of illegal activity in North Somerset. Local landlords, retailers, parents and carers should be absolutely clear that our Trading Standards teams, local police and community safety partners are working closely together to investigate and stamp out this activity at its root. We will not tolerate the sale of illegal and harmful products in our communities.”
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Families, Skills and Lifelong Learning added: “Illicit, unregulated tobacco products and vapes present an increased danger to the public. They are unregulated, can contain higher levels of nicotine and other substances, and can lead to long-term addiction. They also present a fire risk as, unlike regulated products, they may not self-extinguish if unattended. It is illegal to sell vaping products (even nicotine free vapes) to anyone aged under 18. It is also illegal for adults to purchase them on behalf of someone under 18.
“We strongly encourage parents and carers to talk openly with their children about the risks and dangers of using these products, helping them to understand the potential health impacts and risks involved as well as the importance of making informed, safe choices.”
The council is asking members of the public to help by reporting businesses that are suspected of stocking illegal tobacco products and vapes, by alerting their Trading Standards team via this anonymous link.
Businesses are also encouraged to access Trading Standards South West’s No proof of age no sale toolkit, which is free to independent North Somerset businesses.