Derby tackles underage vape sales in new documentary

Working with Derbyshire Police, Trading Standards officers carried out a series of test purchases using underage volunteers as part of a wider operation to combat illegal sales.

A camera crew was on hand to capture a day of test purchasing for the BBC series Defenders.

In total 27 shops were tested across the whole operation. Retailers are expected to ask customers for ID and refuse the sale if they believe the customer is under 18. Despite this, the underage volunteers were sold seven vapes across the whole operation, some of which were also over the legal capacity of 600 puffs.

Donna Dowse, Derby City Council’s Trading Standards manager, features in the documentary and outlines the importance of these operations. She said, “The sale of vapes to children is a high priority for Trading Standards. We don’t know the long-term effects vapes have on the body yet, especially in underage people whose bodies are still developing.