Two retailers targeted during a Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards operation wrongfully sold e-cigarettes or "vapes" to an underage test customer.
The test purchase operation in Barrow and Ulverston targeted nine retailers in total to determine if they were illegally selling e-cigarettes commonly known as “vapes” to underage customers. The other seven successfully refused to complete the sale.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Trading Standards service carried out the operation last week, after receiving complaints from Cumbria Police, concerned parents, and members of the public.
Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "It is a criminal offence to sell nicotine vaping products to persons under the age of 18 years, or purchase them on behalf of under 18’s. Traders found breaking these rules risk being prosecuted, and a possible maximum £2,500 fine.
"Trading Standards have seen a steep increase in harmful, non-compliant products on sale in shops and are working hard to crack down on the sales of e-cigarettes to under 18s.
"Further trading standards test purchasing operations will be carried out in the coming months and the service will do everything it can to keep these products out of the hands of young people in Westmorland and Furness."
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 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk.