Vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people turning to it as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase in the number of underage individuals using vapes. In a recent investigation by Mirror Online, it was discovered that nearly half of shops sampled sold a teenager a clutch of vapes containing large amounts of nicotine, which is enough to equal the nicotine in 100 cigarettes.
This shocking discovery highlights the issue of underage sales of vapes and the need to crack down on the supply chain of these products. According to the Mirror investigation, some shops were selling vapes with as much as 59mg/ml of nicotine, which is almost three times the legal limit of 20mg/ml. This is a serious concern as excessive nicotine intake can lead to addiction, as well as a range of health problems including heart disease.
The sale of vapes to underage individuals is illegal in the UK, with retailers required to conduct age verification checks on all customers. However, the Mirror investigation found that many retailers were not carrying out these checks or were not doing so effectively. This highlights the need for stricter enforcement of the law surrounding the sale of vapes to ensure that underage individuals are not able to obtain these products.
The supply chain of vapes is also a key area of concern when it comes to the sale of these products to underage individuals. Manufacturers and distributors need to be held accountable for ensuring that their products are not being sold illegally. This includes implementing effective age verification systems and monitoring the retailers that stock their products.
It is clear that action needs to be taken to tackle the issue of underage sales of vapes. The Mirror investigation has highlighted some of the key areas that need to be addressed, including stricter enforcement of the law, better age verification systems, and greater accountability for manufacturers and distributors. By working together, we can ensure that young people are not put at risk from the harmful effects of nicotine addiction.