The UK government is intensifying its fight against the illicit and underage sale of e-cigarettes, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting unveiling a series of tough new measures. These include the creation of a dedicated vaping crack team and the introduction of on-the-spot fines for retailers caught selling vapes and illegal tobacco to minors.
New Enforcement Measures
Mr. Streeting confirmed plans for fixed penalty notices of £200 for shopkeepers found selling vapes to anyone under the age of 18. Additionally, those selling tobacco, vapes, or other smoking products without a licence will face fines of £2,500. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, expected to receive Royal Assent this week, will also recruit 120 new Trading Standards agents specialising in tobacco and vapes. These agents will work closely with UK Border Force and HMRC to disrupt the illegal vape trade.
Protecting Children and Communities
Writing in the Mirror, Mr. Streeting stated: "We are taking decisive steps to protect children, support honest shopkeepers, and shut down the criminal networks shamelessly exploiting this unsavoury trade and profiting off vulnerable, impressionable kids." He emphasised that selling these products to children is "an assault on innocence, good health, and future potential" and vowed that the government would "come down like a tonne of bricks" on offenders.
The crackdown follows a series of incidents where school pupils were hospitalised after using illicit vapes containing the synthetic drug Spice, with some cases resulting in comas. Illegal vapes are often marketed on social media platforms like TikTok, with sellers substituting Spice for THC due to its lower cost.
Retail Licensing Scheme
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes provisions to establish a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and vape products. This scheme will set requirements for producers and manufacturers before any e-cigarette product can be sold to consumers. Breaches of the licensing rules can lead to criminal prosecutions, providing a robust deterrent against illegal sales.
Addressing the Youth Vaping Epidemic
While e-cigarettes are promoted as a quitting aid for smokers by the NHS, ministers are increasingly concerned about young people taking up vaping who have never smoked. According to 2025 data from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), 7% of 11–17-year-olds in the UK currently vape, with 20% having tried it. Four in ten young vapers use e-cigarettes daily. Polling indicates that most under-18s obtain e-cigarettes through the online black market.
Research presented at Europe’s biggest heart conference last year suggested that e-cigarettes could increase stroke risk by a third, prompting experts to warn of a "vaping epidemic" among the young.
Government Commitment
Mr. Streeting concluded: "To parents, to clinicians, and to every decent retailer: we are on your side. This is about protecting children from addiction, keeping high streets safe, and cutting off funding for organised crime." He warned rogue traders that the government is "coming for your profits, your products, and your operations" and will not stop until the threat is stamped out.
