Underage Vape Sales in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 - Find a freedom of information request

Please provide the following information as a Freedom of Information request.



1) How many retailers in your local authority have been identified as engaging in underage vape sales in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024? Please provide these figures by individual calendar year (January to December).



2) How many retailers in your local authority have been identified as involved in the sale and supply of illicit/non-compliant vaping products in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024? Please provide these figures by individual calendar year (January to December).



3) How many retailers in your local authority have been shut down a) temporarily and b) permanently due to involvement in the sale and supply of illicit/non-compliant vaping products in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024? Please provide these figures by individual calendar year (January to December).



4) How many retailers in your local authority have been shut down a) temporarily and b) permanently due to engaging in underage sales of vaping products in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024? Please provide these figures by individual calendar year (January to December).



5) How many illicit/non-compliant vaping products have been seized in your local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024? Please provide these figures by individual calendar year (January to December).

1.As confirmed through Underage Sales Test Purchase Operations: 
Year    2019    2020    2021    2022    2023    2024
Attempts    13    0    1    35    50    69
Sales    3    0    0    11    8    14
Refusals    10    0    1    24    42    55

2. As confirmed through seizures:

2022 – 15 seizures from 15 premises 
2023 – 34 seizures from 27 premises
2024 - 63 seizures from 51 premises

Please note, we only started recording vape seizures in 2022.  

3. The first closure order was issued in 2020.  Records to not differentiate between the sale of non-compliant vapes and the underage sale of vapes.  Closure orders are for a maximum of 3 months, with extensions issued in some cases.   

2020 – 1 closure issued to 1 premise
2021 – 2 closures issued to 2 premises
2022 - 12 closures issued to 9 premises
2023 - 23 closures issued to 21 premises 
2024 - 68 closures issued to 57 premises

4. See above

5. Please note, we only started recording vape seizures in 2022.  

2019 - 0
2020 - 0 
2021 - 0
2022 – 5,062 Vapes 
2023 – 12,015 Vapes
2024 – 16,826 Vapes