We Vape Identifies Illegal Sales
Vape action group We Vape has conducted a survey and identified illegal vapes are being sold in Sir Keir Starmer’s, Wes Streeting’s, and David Lammy’s constituency
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by Dave Cross
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Vape action group We Vape has conducted an information gathering exercise and discovered that illicit vapes are being sold in Sir Keir Starmer’s Holborn & St Pancras constituency, Wes Streeting’s Ilford North constituency, and David Lammy’s Tottenham constituency. The latter being “a hotbed of illegal vapes”, according to We Vape’s Mark Oates.
Mark Oates is reported as saying: “Our investigation uncovered vapes with e-liquid tanks more than six times the capacity of the 2ml limit, with some boasting 7000 puffs. A regulated vape would produce between 600-1000 puffs.
“Brightly coloured vapes clearly marketed for children were readily available and traders accepted they were breaking the law – but could make massive profits from doing so. One even revealed how he was making sales of several hundred pounds per day as he operated with apparent impunity.
“The ease with which I was able to buy illegal vapes in the Prime Minister and Health Secretary’s own constituencies is shocking and shows that not enough is being done to stop them getting on the shelves in the first place.”
Mark Oates continued: “There should be a legal requirement for all vapes to be tested and certified as compliant with UK law before they are allowed to go on sale. Frankly, it beggars’ belief that this isn’t already the case. “Pre-sale certification would reassure wholesalers and retailers that the vapes they are selling are legal and get those that aren’t off the shelves.
“And coupled with licensing of vape retailers, it would ensure those selling illegal vapes or caught selling to children could be stripped of their licence. Adding these measures to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would ensure vaping remains an effective way to quit smoking while protecting vapers, retailers and parents.
“The fact that we could buy illegal vapes so quickly within a stone’s throw of Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting’s own constituency headquarters show why they need to act on this while they have the chance.”
Mark Oates said the new government has been waging an “open war” on vaping. Despite this, he continued: “I have been able to stroll into shop after shop, ask for the strongest vape and be sold something already illegal, throughout the day. Most traders barely hide it, they are so emboldened by the lack of enforcement by Trading Standards. The Tobacco and Vapes bill promises yet more restrictions on vaping that will be meaningless while fuelling a black market industry already rampant in London.
“Removing the product does not remove the demand and dealers are chomping at the bit at further bans. Labour must understand vaping is a vital tool in helping people stop smoking, but illegal products and child access must be stopped by enforcement of the laws we already have, not creating more that help illicit traders and reduce access to products for smokers trying to quit.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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