A loophole allowing retailers to give free vape samples to children is set to be closed under government plans to curb their use among young people.
A new crackdown on vape marketing would prevent the “unacceptable” targeting of children and teens, Rishi Sunak said. There will also be a review into the rules around the sale of “nicotine-free” products to under-18s.
A recent BBC investigation found that illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils contained far higher levels of lead, nickel and chromium than deemed safe. The prime minister praised the findings, saying it had made an impression on him.
“It brought home the challenges that we are facing – what your reporting also showed is that there are very harmful toxins coming into the supply chain of vapes – and that’s something we must clamp down on,” Mr Sunak said.
At a Kent lab which tests vapes, he said he was “deeply concerned” by the rise in children vaping and indicated the government could take “further action” to regulate the marketing of vapes.
“There is a range of products which are clearly not designed for adults. They’re designed to appeal to children in the way they are marketed, promoted and the flavours they use,” the prime minister said. There is now a fast-moving debate on how to tackle vaping by children.
The government plans include a review of rules on fines for shops selling illicit vapes. By tightening the law, it said it would be easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to shops which sell vapes to under-age people.
There is now a fast-moving debate on how to tackle vaping by children.
The government plans include a review of rules on fines for shops selling illicit vapes. By tightening the law, it said it would be easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to shops which sell vapes to under-age people.
To report underage sales of vaping products, or if you are a retailer seeking clarification of the law, contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.