Illegal vapes sold in new Exeter shop

A DevonLive investigation has found that Fore Street Vapes in Heavitree, Exeter is selling vapes that are illegal in the UK

A vape shop that has opened in Exeter this summer is stocking and selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco, a DevonLive reporter has discovered. The former Afro Hair Creations salon in Fore Street, Heavitree, has been turned into Fore Street Vapes.

Its shelves are stocked with vapes as well as energy drinks and snacks such as sweets crisps. It is open daily and late into the evening.

There are strict rules about the selling of vapes. They cannot be sold to those under 18 years old and the maximum tank size is 2ml - the equivalent of around 600 to 650 puffs for disposables.

Read more: Army of Exeter residents kick off at road closures plan

A DevonLive reporter visited the shop on Tuesday, July 25, and asked for a disposable vape that would last longer. They were shown a Firerose disposable vape with 4,500 puffs and a Tornado disposable 9,000 puff, both of which were in full public view.

The combined price charged for both was £29, and a wide variety of flavours were available stacked in a long line on a glass-fronted shelf, only accessible by the shop worker.

The owner of a reputable vape shop in Exeter says staff members have also purchased products from Fore Street Vapes that are illegal to sell in the UK.

He said: "Disposable vapes that contain nicotine should not hold more than two mil of liquid which is equal to up to 600 puffs. However, we have had customers come into our store and made us aware of the selling of big bars from Fore Street Vapes.

"We sent a couple of members of our staff to the store on two different occasions and not only were there 9,000 puffs that contain nicotine on display, they were offering tobacco and cigarettes from other countries.

"From under the counter was pulled different brands of tobacco and cigarettes from places including Russia and Poland. The shop is selling counterfeit cigarettes as the text is different and they don't have the peal slip on the side of the packet. The price for them was £6 instead of £14 which you would pay in the shops.

"We feel this kind of store really is not helping the industry and is breaking the law. We have reported it to the local police, local MP and Trading Standards."

A spokesman for Devon Trading Standards acknowledged the findings and said: “We will be issuing retailers of e-cigarettes, nicotine containing e-liquids and vapes a confirmation of the rules when it comes to selling these products.”

Elsewhere in Devon, two local shops have been caught selling age-restricted products to under 18s and have been given Community Protection Warnings and face further investigation. The shops, unnamed by Teignbridge District Council, were caught selling vapes to youngsters in a joint operation involving its Community Safety Team, police and Trading Standards; which involved spot checks on 15 shops in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot last month.

The checks were part of a national Trading Standards initiative to clamp down on illegal underage sales. Volunteers under the age of 18 visited the shops to try and buy nicotine inhaling products or alcohol. Some of the shops targeted had been the subject of complaints from the public of alleged underage sales.

Products advertising significantly more usage than this are illegal. If the number of puffs claimed on a disposable device is more than around 600, it’s not allowed to be on the UK market. Warnings also have to cover 30 per cent of the front and back of the pack.

Doctors have called for an outright ban on disposable vapes – which come in bright colours and a variety of flavours – to reduce their popularity among young people as the long-term impact remains unknown. There is rising concern over youth vaping in Britain, with the latest survey by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) showing a rise in recent years.

In 2022, serve per cent of 11- to 17-year-olds surveyed said they used vapes, compared with 3.3 per cent in 2021. Non-compliant vapes are particularly popular with underage consumers because they are cheap and could be bought in places that were less likely to check ID.

Illegal vapes often did not have the right warnings or information on their packaging. They also pose significant risks to users, as they’re not regulated or evaluated for safety or quality.

There is a legal limit of 20mg per millilitre of E-Liquid (or, 2% nicotine) imposed by UK regulators. The nicotine strength in E-Liquids must adhere to this specific limit to be approved for sale in the UK.

The owner of Fore Street Vapes was contacted on Friday July 28 for a comment but has yet to respond.