Illegal vapes seized as three Preston and South Ribble stores fail under-age purchases

Some of the illegal vapes seized by trading standards Pic: Lancashire County Council

Teenagers were able to buy alcohol, vapes and cigarettes across Preston and South Ribble despite being under the legal age.

Lancashire Police and Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team joined forces during the Easter period for the underage test purchasing.

Aged between 13 to 16 the teenagers were able to buy booze and vapes.

Officers also seized more than 590 non-compliant vapes during their county-wide crackdown as test purchases were also carried out in Rossendale, Fleetwood and Fylde.

14 premises were tested for alcohol, with one selling alcohol to a minor.

Three premises were tested for vapes, with one sale along with a seizure of vapes.

One premises tested for cigarettes with no sales.

In South Ribble, seven premises were tested for alcohol with one sale and three premises tested for vapes with no sales.

Across Lancashire eight businesses in total failed the test purchases. The county council and police do not release the names of the premises which failed the purchases.

Trading Standards manager Angela Lomax said: “Although we are pleased that the vast majority of the businesses that were tested did not sell to the volunteers, we are still disappointed that eight still chose to sell alcohol and vapes to children.

“A robust ‘Check 25’ policy is the best way for businesses to eliminate sales to underage customers.

“We encourage anyone who has concerns about the sale of any age-restricted products to report these to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 08082231133.”

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