Barking and Dagenham vape test purchases: all 19 retailers refuse underage sales

All 19 premises visited by Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards on 27 October refused to sell tobacco products to underage volunteers, the council reports, in a test conducted two days before new Tobacco and Vapes Act measures came into force on 29 October.

The result covers only tobacco-age test purchases. The council links the compliance to its Responsible Retailer Scheme, which gives local businesses guidance, training and support on age-restricted products, vapes included.

From 29 October, under-18 rules extend to nicotine-free vapes

The measures in force since 29 October widen the under-18 sales ban beyond nicotine-containing products to nicotine-free vapes and other nicotine products such as nicotine pouches, strips and pearls.

The Act also makes it an offence for an adult to buy or attempt to buy vaping or nicotine products for someone under 18. It bans promotional giveaways and significant promotional discounts, restricts vape sales through vending machines, and gives Trading Standards new enforcement powers, including £200 fixed penalty notices.

Councillors tie the pass rate to stronger enforcement powers

Councillor Syed Ghani, cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said the results show local businesses understand their responsibilities, and that the Act gives Trading Standards stronger powers against illegal sales. Councillor Maureen Worby, cabinet member for housing, adult social care and health, said the compliance is welcome and described the Act as a step in reducing young people’s access to nicotine products.

Trading Standards services across England are receiving additional government funding to strengthen enforcement, according to the council. Further test purchasing operations are planned for vapes, alcohol and knives.

Retailers and distributors face more than refusal at the till

The 27 October checks tested refusal of tobacco sales, so they do not by themselves show how the same 19 premises handle nicotine-free vapes, age verification for pouches and strips, or the new limits on promotions. Those duties apply from 29 October regardless of a clean test result.

For suppliers, the promotional discount and giveaway ban reaches how products are marketed in shops, which puts the compliance work on retail-facing materials rather than only on product specifications. VapeBrief’s analysis: exporters and distributors selling into England should expect retailers to ask for marketing material that fits the new rules, and the £200 penalty gives councils a low-cost enforcement tool that can be applied repeatedly.

Results cover one borough and one product category

The council did not state how many volunteers were used, which products staff were asked to sell, or whether any results from other product categories were recorded. The findings are limited to the 19 visited premises and do not measure compliance elsewhere in England.

The next step is the council’s planned test purchasing for vapes, alcohol and knives, which will show whether refusal holds once vapes themselves are the target.

Questions readers ask

What changed in England on 29 October?

The under-18 sales ban was extended to nicotine-free vapes and nicotine products such as pouches, strips and pearls; buying for under-18s became an offence; promotional giveaways and significant discounts were banned; vape vending machine sales were restricted; and Trading Standards received powers including £200 fixed penalty notices.

Did the Barking and Dagenham test purchases cover vapes?

The council describes the 27 October exercise as checking compliance with age-restricted tobacco sales, with further test purchasing planned for vapes, alcohol and knives.