Local retailers refused underage e-cigarette sales this week in a Cumberland Council crackdown.

In an attempt to stymie the illegal sale of vaping devices to minors, trading standards officers from Cumberland Council deployed a underage test purchaser to sixteen establishments in Workington, Flimby, Maryport, and Carlisle.

Each business correctly asked for identification and rejected sales.

An earlier summer sweep had varying results in these areas; In August, 62 percent of Workington retailers refused the sales; Maryport denied just 34 percent, while Carlisle and Wigton were more successful, with 92 percent of sales blocked.

This improved result has been heartily welcomed by council officials.

Councillor Bob Kelly, Executive Member for Licensing and Regulatory Services, said: “Our aim is to protect the whole community.

“This means protecting product users and purchasers from harm, guiding sellers or producers who may face criminal proceedings, and safeguarding members of the public who may incidentally be harmed by the behaviour of others.

“We’re delighted to see a significant improvement in the number of test sale purchases being refused.

“A 100 per cent test operation pass rate is the result we want from local retailers.

“Our trading standards team have worked incredibly hard to advise businesses of their obligations to make sure they’re checking for identification on age related purchases.

“I’d like to credit the team, and the retailers for ensuring employees have the appropriate training and understand the law and potential fines for breaking the rules.”

Violating the stringent laws on the sale of nicotine vaping products is a serious crime.

Perpetrators risk prosecution and a potential fine of up to £2,500.

The colourful packaging and array of flavours make disposable vapes attractive to underage customers; nicotine, an addictive substance within these devices, may pave the way for a smoking habit later in life.

According to Action on Smoking and Health’s (ASH) report, ‘Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain,’ the number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years.

By 2023, over 20 per cent of British children had tried vaping.

Due to nicotine content and the unknown long-term harms, young people and people who have never smoked should not vape.

Cumberland trading standards backs the UK Government's proposed measures to curb the youth vaping trend.

These include restrictions on flavours, regulations on point-of-sale displays and packaging, limiting the supply of disposable vapes and considering the extension of these regulations to non-nicotine vapes.

Taking action on the affordability of vapes is also being considered.

The local community, including residents, medical professionals, and retailers, are encouraged to respond to the UK Government's 'Creating a Smokefree Generation' online consultation.

Residents can call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or email trading.standards@cumberland.gov.uk if they have any concerns regarding underage sales.