“Given the child’s incredibly young age, the family rightly felt this was a very serious issue requiring urgent attention and enforcement.”
Councils in Northern Ireland need to enforce “zero tolerance” for vape sales to under-age children amid claims parents “don’t know where to turn”.
That is according to a Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council councillor who highlighted concerns of children as young as 13-years old able to buy vapes in local shops.
The chamber was urged this week to promote a new campaign identifying councils and not the PSNI as the go to authority on illegal vape sales to minors.
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Castlereagh South Sinn Fein councillor Ryan Carlin said: “I was recently contacted by a concerned parent who discovered their 13-year-old son had been able to purchase vaping products from a local retailer in Lisburn and Castlereagh over a period of months.
“Given the child’s incredibly young age, the family rightly felt this was a very serious issue requiring urgent attention and enforcement.
“The parents only became aware after see their bank statements, which identified the sales of vapes.
“What followed was a frustrating experience of the family being passed between the PSNI and Trading Standards, and then ultimately the council through myself, trying to find out who had responsibility to act.”
A UK wide ban on disposable vapes took place in June, however refill vapes continued to be permitted.
Recent research by the Public Health Agency (PHA) found that 46% of year 14 school pupils (age 17-18) with 7,500 surveyed currently vape, despite it being illegal to sell or supply vapes to under-18s.
He added:”I’m pleased to say that our Environmental Health team quickly confirmed this sits within the council’s remit and acted promptly in following up the case.
“However, this did raise wider concerns. Too many young people are accessing vapes, and parents often don’t know where to turn.
“I would ask the council to give this issue some focus and look at whether it is more widespread.
“I also believe there is potential to improve how we communicate with parents and young people that these incidents should be reported directly to the council.
“And finally, where retailers are found to be knowingly and wilfully selling vapes to under-age children, particularly children as young as 13, this council should take a clear zero-tolerance approach to enforcement.
“The sale of vapes to under-age children should be treated with the same seriousness as the sale of alcohol or tobacco.”
LCCC chief executive David Burns responded: “We do spot checks, but I’ll have the team check that wee bit further and we will bring a report back for consideration.”
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