Illegal vapes are being overtly bought to youngsters, in keeping with a vape store proprietor who says his business is being “tarred with the identical brush”.

Simon Lawrence, who has KwikVape in Worthing, claims to have witnessed “unlawful merchandise” being bought to youngsters in additional than a dozen shops.

The “6,000 puff” vapes may be purchased wholesale for as little as £3 however are being bought for as much as £20 by retailers, in keeping with Simon.

The daddy-of-two has known as for West Sussex County Council “to get on with it” and seize the vapes, which he stated are designed to look interesting to underneath 18s.

One in every of unlawful vapes that Simon bought is designed to appear to be a milkshake (Picture: Equipped)

Simon claimed the vapes being bought comprise 20mg of nicotine however are “in extra of 9 or ten occasions the authorized most liquid capability” within the UK.

He stated: “I’ve been to a number of outlets and seen children being served. I’ve purchased unlawful merchandise and stored the receipts however nothing is altering.

“The vapes should not examined to UK requirements. Vape outlets all get tarred by the identical brush although I comply with all of the laws. As a dad or mum of two youngsters as nicely, it’s regarding.

“I’ve notified them of the outlets in query. This has been occurring for a lot of months, we simply assume what is occurring? The council have to get on with it and get Buying and selling Requirements in there. It must be seized.

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“It’s simply fallacious and no person is aware of how harmful these vapes are. Nobody is aware of what’s in them.

“If ever requested for ID, children simply flash a university badge. Buying and selling Requirements wouldn’t have the assets to deal with it.

“It’s a retailer downside. Deal with it the identical as alcohol, for those who get caught you get banned.”

Present UK legal guidelines prohibit the capability of vape tanks to 2ml, which is round 600 puffs.

The vapes that Simon purchased promote themselves as 6,000 puffs, which might make them 20ml and ten occasions the authorized tank measurement.

A 20mg vape which has a capability of 20ml capability, 6,000 puffs value, is equal of as much as 480 cigarettes.

An unlawful 6,000 puff vape (Picture: Equipped)

One of many vapes he purchased was designed to appear to be a milkshake with a straw because the mouth piece.

West Sussex County Council stated it’s conscious of the shops that Simon has flagged however can not touch upon particular allegations at present.

It additionally referred to 14 examples of its crackdown on outlets promoting merchandise which might be unlawful for underneath 18s.

Most of those examples nonetheless had been of outlets having licences banned for alcohol, not vape merchandise.

A spokesman for the council stated: “We’re unable to touch upon particular person circumstances, we wish to emphasise that we take such allegations severely and can at all times take decisive motion if acceptable.

“The provision of age-restricted merchandise to youngsters is a precedence for the service and an intervention is initiated in response to all experiences acquired.

“We’d additionally like to focus on the proactive efforts of West Sussex Buying and selling Requirements in tackling two key areas round vaping: the unlawful sale of nicotine-containing vapes to minors and the availability of non-compliant vaping gadgets, each of that are national points.

“If any dealer sells age-restricted merchandise, significantly alcohol, throughout a check buy operation then the Buying and selling Requirements Service will apply for a evaluate of the alcohol licence along with any formal motion which may be taken towards the dealer.

“Since January 2022, 15 alcohol licence evaluations have been utilized for in relation to age-restricted gross sales throughout West Sussex, with outcomes various from full revocation of licence to suspensions and further licensing circumstances imposed.

“West Sussex County Council has launched a two-year collaboration between Public Health and Buying and selling Requirements, funding two devoted officers specializing in illicit tobacco and vaping-related points. Moreover, the federal government has proposed a £3 million initiative for an ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ to help native authorities.”

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that the federal government is about to ban disposable vapes altogether because of considerations that youngsters had been turning into hooked on them.