Two Essex retailers have been prosecuted after selling vapes to children.
Essex Trading Standards received complaints about age-restricted products being sold to children at:
- Liverpool Mobile & Electronics, Basildon
- Vape Zone, Brentwood
Essex Trading Standards began underage test purchasing in August 2024.
Liverpool Mobile & Electronics was found selling a disposable Elf Bar 600 vape to a 15-year-old volunteer without carrying out ID checks. The product had 2% nicotine content.
Working at Vape Zone, Aren Fazil Jalal - known as Lawa Jalal - sold the same product to a 15-year-old volunteer. He also did not carry out ID checks.
Liverpool Mobile & Electronics, Basildon, was fined £1,500 after pleading guilty. The business must also pay a victim surcharge of £600, as well as £5,000 in costs.
Aren Fazil Jalal was fined £500 after being found guilty and must pay a victim surcharge of £200, as well as £500 in costs.
Councillor Mark Durham, our Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “Sellers of age-restricted goods, including vapes, must ensure they are vigilant and always ask to see proof of age before making a sale to a young person.
"They must have robust processes in place, including staff training, to guard against any illegal underage sales.
“These prosecutions show how seriously we take this issue. Businesses which break the law in Essex will be targeted by Trading Standards.”
You should contact Essex Trading Standards if you think a shop is selling age-restricted products to children.
Call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or visit its website.