Rotherham Council is cracking down on illegal vapes as part of an ongoing response to tackle public health concerns.
Working in partnership with South Yorkshire Police, officers from Rotherham Trading Standards have seized over 5000 illegal vapes across the borough, with an estimated retail value of around £50k. Out of the 20 premises visited 19 had non-compliant products on sale.
Vapes are regulated in the UK to ensure they meet minimum safety and quality standards. However, many products seized locally failed to meet the legal requirements due to some of containing higher concentration of nicotine levels, some up to 10 times the legal limit.
E-cigarettes are currently the most popular method used to help quit smoking in England and vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking tobacco. Although e-cigarettes can effectively help adult smokers quit, experts agree that young people should not smoke or vape due to the risks to health.
There are increasing concerns around how easy it is for people to purchase illegal products and the appeal of vapes to a younger demographic and those who haven’t previously smoked.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Cllr David Roche, said: “Whilst many people use vaping as legitimate means to stop smoking, there is a potential risk that these particular products could become more desirable to a younger audience, resulting in a higher number of people inhaling larger quantities of nicotine. For any residents wishing to stop smoking Get Healthy Rotherham offers free advice and support.”
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “The Council have recently seen a rise in illegal products on the market, along with an increase in reports of underage sales. In order to tackle these issues, we will continue to work with local businesses to ensure they are complying with the law. Any retailers who continue to sell illegal products will have them confiscated and face prosecution.”
Anyone who wishes to understand how to choose a vape that meets safety requirements or would like advice on how to safely use e-cigarette to quit smoking can find free support available through Get Healthy Rotherham at https://www.gethealthyrotherham.co.uk/.