War on vapes as poll reveals public want shopkeepers to face £1k fines for selling e-cigs to children
ROGUE shopkeepers who sell vapes to kids should face on-the-spot fines of up to £1,000, a poll shows.
Ministers must bring in tougher penalties including a “three strikes and you’re out” rule for retailers who repeatedly sell to youths, the public believe.
The survey found that people think the current plan for a £200 on-the-spot fine for sellers does not go far enough.
It is currently illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, with the public encouraged to report offending shops to the local trading standards teams.
New legislation will include a vaping licence for anyone who wants to sell tobacco, nicotine or vape products.
But the poll found that 67 per cent of people want the licence removed if retailers sell to those underage on three occasions.
The survey of almost 6,000 people was commissioned by BAT, the UK’s biggest vape manufacturer.
Spokesman Asli Ertonguc said: “We agree with the public that on-the-spot fines of £200 are just not a realistic deterrent for those making serious profits cynically selling vapes to children or stocking illegal devices.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill returns to the House of Commons next week where it will be discussed in detail in the committee stage.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The faster £200 on-the-spot fines complement the fines of up to £2,500 that courts can already impose.
“We are also investing £30million in boosting enforcement to keep tobacco and vapes out of the hands of children.”