NEWS
Vaping products now included in National
Tobacco Control Survey report
E-cigarettes and vaping products have, for the first time, been
included in the annual National Tobacco Control Survey report.
The report, which analyses compliance
with tobacco legislation, found that 74
per cent of councils had conducted
tobacco control activities in relation
to underage sales of nicotine
inhaling products.
If follows changes to the law in
October 2015, when sale of nicotine
inhaling products to under-18s
became prohibited.
In total 877 visits to various premises
were undertaken by volunteer young
persons, with the majority of underage
sales (61 per cent) occurring at market
stalls and car boot sales.
The report also discovered that the
number of councils carrying out
traditional tobacco control activities in
relation to underage sales had dropped
by 17 per cent.
Leon Livermore, chief executive of
CTSI said that while regular e-cigarette
use among children is relatively
rare, children’s awareness and
experimentation with them is increasing.
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“More than 2.5 million adults use
electronic cigarettes and evidence
suggests the products are now the
most popular quitting aid for
smokers in England.
“Although young people say their major
source of cigarettes is being given them
from other people, nearly half of young
people admit buying their cigarettes
from a shop.
“Trading standards teams play a frontline
role in preventing children from obtaining
any type of cigarette product and will
not hesitate to take enforcement action
against retailers that flout the law.
“The law states that if you sell nicotine
“Businesses supported a
minimum age of sale for
these products and this
is a helpful reminder of
the new legislation.”
inhaling products to a person under
the age of 18 the maximum penalty on
conviction is a fine of £2,500.”
Public Health Minister Nicola
Blackwood said it was encouraging to
see e-cigarettes being monitored in
the survey.
She said: “Businesses supported a
minimum age of sale for these products
and this is a helpful reminder of the
new legislation.”
The report surveyed trading standards
activity across 151 councils in England
from April 2015 to March 2016 - returning
a response rate of 98 per cent.
Findings also showed that 59 per cent
of councils undertook test purchase
operations but the sales levels were
higher than for tobacco products at
36 per cent.
Businesses can access up to date
information on the laws relating
to nicotine inhaling prodtucts on
government-backed website,
www.businesscompanion.info