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Falkirk Council’s Trading Standards team carried out test purchases at six shops that sell nicotine vapour products in the area, with five selling the age restricted product to a person under the age of 18 without checking the customer’s age. The five local shops have been served with fixed penalty notices of £200 each for selling nicotine vapour products (vapes) to under 18s.

These shops will be monitored and if they continue to breach the law, they could be banned from selling these products for up to two years.

All premises were visited by officers before the test purchases operation and reminded of the requirements to operate an age verification policy and to ask for ID from anyone who looks under the age of 25. 

Councillor Stacey Devine, spokesperson for Public Protection said: “This activity was planned and undertaken following information provided by concerned members of the public. We have a duty to ensure that retailers are abiding by the law and in this case not selling vapes to under 18s. 

“We will continue to work with communities and will not hesitate to carry out further  activity of this type to ensure our young people are protected by the law.

“The retailers have already received an education pack and advice from Trading Standards in relation to underage sales.”

ASH Scotland recently reported that e-cigarette use by 15 year olds has tripled in the last five years.  Whilst the Scottish Government Health and Wellbeing Census polled 25, 380 pupils in S2 and S4 and data found that 10.1% of S4 students, aged around 15 years old, and 4.3% of S2 students, around 13 years old, reported using e-cigarettes once a week or more.

Any member of the public who suspects a trader is selling tobacco or vapes to under 18’s can report this in confidence to tradingstandards@falkirk.gov.uk