A motion on the subject was passed unanimously with cross-group support at this month’s council meeting.

It followed the results, published in The View, of a test-purchase exercise where more than a third of retailers tested had sold single-use vapes to people under the age of 18. Despite these premises being fined and warned, when follow-up tests were carried out a quarter of them repeatedly sold vapes to young volunteers without asking for age ID.

The motion noted: “Trading Standards Officers have fined those retailers breaking this law £200 (£150 if paid within 14 days) but is discouraged that a quarter of retails continued to sell disposable vapes to children and young people. The council believes that this indicates that rogue retailers are factoring the fine risk into the cost of doing business.”

In passing the motion, councillors welcomed the potential complete UK-wide ban of disposable vape products but also recognised that, until this ban comes into effect, more must be done on a local level.

It was agreed that Trading Standards will continue to test retailers and that existing confidential processes will be publicised for the public to report – via phone, web form and email – retailers selling nicotine products to minors.

Where a premises is found to have sold nicotine products to people under the age of 18, further action will be considered including seeking an order in the Sheriff Court prohibiting the sale of nicotine products by that vendor and reviewing a relevant licence held by the seller regarding age-restricted goods or services, such as alcohol, fireworks, knives, a cinema, a sex shop, skin-piercing, tattooing, gaming and sunbeds.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Elise Frame and seconded by Councillor Cal Johnston-Dempsey.

Councillor Frame thanked Trading Standards and their youth volunteers for the work they have already carried out on this issue.