Liverpool City Council has taken a strong stance against retailers who sell dangerous vapes, shutting down eight businesses since October 2023. This new approach has resulted in thousands of illegal vapes being taken off the streets, with over 1,200 seized from a single business alone. The council is the first in the North West of England to adopt this strategy, using legislation initially created during the Covid-19 pandemic to close businesses engaged in anti-social behaviour.
These illegal products often pose a significant threat to public health, as they are not regulated and can contain prohibited substances such as banned ingredients and oversized tanks for the nicotine liquid. Analysis has shown that some have high levels of lead, nickel, and chromium, and many of the vapes seized have nicotine concentration levels well above the legal maximum of 20mg per millilitre. These products are often marketed towards young people, leading to concerns about widespread underage use.
Retailers caught selling these products are subject to fines and three-month closure orders. Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, has praised the new approach, stating that it is “fantastic to see so many of these illegal products being removed from our streets.” He goes on to urge smokers who use vapes to buy them from reputable sellers and warns of the clear health risks associated with illicit vapes.
Meanwhile, Professor Matthew Ashton, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, emphasises the significance of using legal vapes, which are regulated and therefore safer than their illegal counterparts. According to Ashton, “The risks that illicit vapes pose to health is clear, with many of them including ingredients that are unregulated. Legal vapes continue to be the most popular and effective smoking aid used by smokers trying to quit. While many choose to use them, it is important for people to be mindful of where they buy their vapes to ensure they meet the appropriate requirements. Our guidance continues to be that if you smoke, vaping is safer. If you don’t smoke – don’t vape.”
Overall, Liverpool City Council’s zero-tolerance approach shows a commitment to protecting public health, particularly that of young people. By working to combat the sale of dangerous, unregulated vapes, the council is setting a positive example for other regions to follow
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