FOI Request - Illegal Sale of Vaping Products to Under-18s

Request 101003452801

I am writing to submit a Freedom of Information request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, seeking information on the enforcement activities conducted by Trading Standards in relation to the illegal sale of vaping products to individuals under the age of 18 within your area.

Could you please provide the following information:

Section 1:

1. How many fines have been issued by Trading Standards to traders for the sale of vaping products to under-18s in each of the last five years, and what is their combined value?
2.  What is a) the median value of fines issued to traders for the sale of vaping products to under-18s over the last five years, and of those, b) what is the value of i) the smallest and ii) the largest fine issued?

Section 2:

1. How many complaints have been made to Trading Standards about traders selling vaping products to under-18s in each of the last five years?
2. How many of these resulted in a) advice, b) warnings, or c) formal prosecution?
3. How many vape test purchases have been conducted in each of the past five years?
4. How many of these resulted in a) advice, b) warnings, or c) formal prosecution?

Response 12-01-2024

Section 1:

1. How many fines have been issued by Trading Standards to traders for the sale of vaping products to under-18s in each of the last five years, and what is their combined value?

2019 - 0
2020 - 0
2021 - 0
2022 - 4 x Fixed Penalty Notices
2023 - 0

Combined value £850

2. What is a) the median value of fines issued to traders for the sale of vaping products to under-18s over the last five years, and of those, b) what is the value of i) the smallest and ii) the largest fine issued?

a) £150
b) i)£150  ii)£450

Section 2: 

1. How many complaints have been made to Trading Standards about traders selling vaping products to under-18s in each of the last five years?

2019 - 0
2020 - 0
2021 - 2
2022 - 3
2023 - 5

2. How many of these resulted in a) advice, b) warnings, or c) formal prosecution?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 1

3. How many vape test purchases have been conducted in each of the past five years?
2019 - 0
2020 - 4
2021 - 0
2022 - 9
2023 - 0 

4. How many of these resulted in a) advice, b) warnings, or c) formal prosecution?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 0
4 x Fixed Penalty Notices issued