Suffolk Trading Standards has stopped the sale of dangerous vapes at premises in Felixstowe, Ipswich, and Lowestoft in their bid to tackle one of the top threats on the high street. 

Officers recently discovered more than 370 vapes which did not meet the legal requirements, including some which offered as many as 10,000 puffs when a legal vape would offer around 600.

When used properly, vapes and e-cigarettes can be a successful way of helping people to stop smoking. But criminals are capitalising on this, leading to a rise in illegal vapes, which can contain high levels of nicotine, contaminants, or banned ingredients such as taurine or caffeine. 

 In addition, some retailers are increasingly selling vapes to underage children, who are often enticed by the colourful packaging and sweet flavours used by some vaping manufacturers. 

Graham Crisp, Head of Suffolk Trading Standards, said:  "The sale of illegal vapes, coupled with sales made to those who are under 18, poses one of the biggest threats on high streets across the country at present. 

 "Suffolk Trading Standards has seen a considerable increase in vapes which do not meet health guidelines and could cause respiratory problems, heart and lung damage or even death for the user.

"We will continue to carry out spot checks on retailers across Suffolk, taking legal action where necessary, with tough penalties for businesses who flout the laws put in place to help protect the public." 

Cllr Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added: "Thanks to the tireless work of Suffolk Trading Standards, hundreds of potentially deadly vapes have been withdrawn from sale in our county. 

"Whilst people shouldn't be put off using vapes, which the Government recognises is the number one tool in helping smokers quit effectively, they should only purchase products from a reputable retailer and question any strange looking packaging.

"It is also important to remember that vapes should never be used by children, who are more susceptible to becoming addicted to nicotine and the damage this can cause to brains and lungs."

Consumers can protect themselves by looking out for the following to ensure the vape that they are purchasing is legal:

• The tank of a vape is a maximum size of 2ml, and the largest refill bottle is 10ml in size or less
• All liquids should come in childproof bottles displaying nicotine warnings and have an accompanying safety leaflet
• Vapes should have a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml or 2%
• A maximum number of around 600 puffs is offered

Anyone who suspects that a shop is selling unsafe e-cigarettes and vaping liquids or making sales of age-restricted products to children can report this in confidence to Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.