Traders of vaping products which contain nicotine are being warned they could face court action if they sell illegal products or to underage buyers following a successful prosecution of three traders by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

On March 13, 2024, Brian Ede, owner of Rings and Things market stall at Green Park Station; Poonnambalam Murali, owner of Costcutter in Wells Road and PKT Stores in Fortescue Road, both in Radstock; and Yuvi Private Limited, who operates the Bishop Sutton Post Office, all pleaded guilty to offences under the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.

Magistrates heard how a 15-year-old volunteer working with the council's Trading Standards Team was sold the products in August last year. It is illegal to sell vapes and e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18.

Ede was fined £108 for the offence and ordered to pay costs totalling £750 and a victim surcharge of £43 as a result of the sale from his premises.

Following sales to the volunteer at both of his premises, Murali was fined £322 for each offence and ordered to pay costs of £1569 and a victim surcharge of £250.

At Bishop Sutton Post Office, trading standards officers also found a large quantity of vapes for sale which contained nicotine liquid in quantities above the 2 ml legally allowed limit. The illegal vapes were seized.

Yuvi Private Limited also pleaded guilty to this offence under the Tobacco and Related Products regulations 2016 and the magistrates ordered the illegal vapes be forfeited and destroyed.

 Yuvi Private Limited was fined £160 for the underage sales offence and £484 for the sale of the illegal vapes. They were also ordered to pay costs of £1781 and a victim surcharge of £260.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "Our Trading Standards team is working hard to stop vapes being made available to under 18s. Our test purchasing exercise showed that most traders in our area are complying with the law and did not sell to our underage volunteer which is good news, however we will continue to make checks on retailers that sell vapes so we can protect consumers from illegal activity and products."

Anyone who has concerns or information about illegal, or underage sales of age restricted goods should report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133.