Complaints, reports or referrals concerning the sale or attempted sale of vaping and nicotine products to people under the age of 18.

I would like to please request the following information relating to complaints, reports or referrals concerning the sale or attempted sale of vaping and nicotine products to people under the age of 18.



For each of the last three financial years (2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26), please provide:



1. The total number of complaints, reports, referrals, or other recorded instances of concern received relating to vaping or nicotine products (including electronic cigarettes/vapes, nicotine pouches, nicotine-containing e-liquids, and other nicotine products) being sold or allegedly being sold to under-18s.



2. Where recorded, a breakdown of these instances by the following:



- Financial year



- Product type



- Outcome (e.g. investigation or compliance visit, test purchase, seizure, warning or other enforcement action, prosecution or financial penalty, etc)



- Premise type (e.g. convenience stores/newsagents, specialist vape shops, supermarkets, market stalls, online retailers, etc)
 

For each of the last three financial years (2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26), please provide:

1. The total number of complaints, reports, referrals, or other recorded instances of concern received relating to vaping or nicotine products (including electronic cigarettes/vapes, nicotine pouches, nicotine-containing e-liquids, and other nicotine products) being sold or allegedly being sold to under-18s.

104

2. Where recorded, a breakdown of these instances by the following: - Financial year

Outcome (e.g. investigation or compliance visit, test purchase, seizure, warning or other enforcement action, prosecution or financial penalty, etc)

Of the 104 complaints received, 71 separate premises were identified. Seven of these premises were located outside Lincolnshire, and the relevant intelligence was shared with the appropriate Trading Standards authorities.

Of the remaining 64 premises in Lincolnshire, 52 have been subject to intervention, including test purchases relating to illicit tobacco and vapes, underage sales test purchases and general inspections.

Of these 52 premises, 44 have been subject to underage sales test purchase operations. In addition, 19 premises have been subject to closure orders and four have been subject to prosecution. These actions related to offences involving underage sales and/or the sale of illicit products.

Premise type (e.g. convenience stores/newsagents, specialist vape shops, supermarkets, market stalls, online retailers, etc)