A nationwide initiative tackling issues around underage vaping is being piloted in Kent.
Local Vape Action (LVA) will bring together a number of bodies to target illegal sales to youngsters.
The three-month trial has been launched in Tunbridge Wells and organisers say they hope they achieve their aims by “engagement, enforcement and compliance”.
Once the Kent pilot has been examined, it will inform the development of a national LVA to begin in 2025.
Tunbridge Wells was chosen for the “good work” already being done by Kent County Council’s Trading Standards team and because the town had identified anti-social behaviour among young people where vaping was involved.
KCC has been heavily involved in spearheading the drive to stop vape sales to young people. and to come down hard on the retailers who sell them.
Retailer and maker of the Smoko vape brand Mike Cameron, who runs his business in Camden Road with wife Daisy, said: “I totally support the LVA because I know that there are retailers who don’t care who they are selling to.
“We don’t get underage kids coming into our shop anymore because they know they won’t get served.
“But there are mobile phone shops selling these things and they wouldn’t know a good product from a bad one.”
Tunbridge Wells often has teenagers milling around the town centre after school and has around 80 outlets which sell vapes.
Mr Cameron says he is in favour of an annual licence fee for vape sales but warned the EU Tobacco Product Directive, which the UK signed up to, is not being adhered to.
Cheap and super-strength products intercepted coming into Britain are also a growing concern to government health officials.
Clair Bell, KCC cabinet member for community and regulatory services, said: “This is a positive additional step to the work we are already doing and will contribute to raising compliance and creating a level playing field.
“From the work conducted by our vape team, we are aware that disposable vapes are sold in a very diverse range of retail premises.
“This means that for some retailers a disposable vape is the first age related product that they have stocked, this can lead to confusion and mistakes being made.”
At the launch, a wide selection of illegal products were on display which are barely distinguishable from legal ones.
The LVA has drawn together KCC, Kent Police, Kent community and public health bodies and the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA).
On the day of the launch, the LVA team visited eight shops in Tunbridge Wells and found issues in two of them which will be followed up.
Gillian Golden, CEO of the IBVTA, said: “The launch of the Local Vape Action (LVA) pilot in Tunbridge Wells provides an excellent opportunity to bring collective knowledge and expertise together to deliver on a comprehensive programme of action to tackle the well-documented issues that undermine a responsible vape sector.
“We are therefore delighted to be working with partners from across Kent in delivering this first pilot project and take those learnings forward into the development of the national LVA.”
Mike Martin, MP for Tunbridge Wells, said: “It represents a vital step in protecting our young people and fostering a safer, healthier environment for all residents of Tunbridge Wells. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this pilot will have and hope it sets the standard for similar projects across the country.”
