South Lanarkshire councillor expresses disappointment over retailers selling vapes to under-18s. Robert Brown, chair of the Critical Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, has voiced his concerns following a recent revelation that more than a third of traders in South Lanarkshire have been selling vapes to underage customers. Brown reiterated his support for a complete ban on single-use vapes and criticised the disregard shown by some retailers towards existing legislation.
South Lanarkshire Consumer and Trading Standards conducted a test purchase exercise at 125 premises in the region, where 44 outlets were found to have sold vapes to volunteer purchasers under the age of 18. Shockingly, upon follow-up visits, 11 of these outlets continued to sell vapes to underage individuals without requesting age identification, despite having previously received fixed penalty fines.
Councillor Brown emphasised the need to protect children from the potential health risks associated with vaping and stated that the council is actively working towards preventing the sale of single-use vapes to minors. He highlighted the possibility of taking further enforcement actions against non-compliant retailers, such as reviewing their licensing suitability or involving the Procurator Fiscal if necessary.
Consumer and Trading Standards, mandated to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of vapes to under-18s, observed an uptick in complaints regarding the sale of single-use vapes to children. Their test purchasing scheme involves supervised young volunteers attempting to buy age-restricted products, with offenders facing immediate visits, fines, and product disposal.
The issue of underage vaping remains a significant concern, prompting calls for stricter enforcement measures and a potential nationwide ban on single-use vapes. Councillor Brown’s stance reflects the council’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of young people in the community. The debate on vaping regulations continues as authorities strive to curb underage access to these products and ensure compliance with existing laws.