Concerns have been raised by a Walsall councillor after she claimed to have witnessed students as young as nine bring vapes to school.
Members of the authority, who worry that young children in the borough are being sold vapes, will push the government to demand tougher sanctions for businesses that violate advertising regulations as well as additional licencing authority to outlaw the sale of e-cigarettes in stores that are close to schools.
Council members voiced their concerns about vape shops selling to minors under the age of 18 and their brightly coloured packaging, which is intended to make them more appealing to children, during a debate on a cross-party resolution.
A councillor from Palfrey who is also a teacher reported seeing young children in Years 5 and 6 of elementary schools bringing in vapes.
The legal limit for vaping is 600 puffs, but 782 illegal vapes that held 9,000 puffs were found during a recent joint operation with Sandwell, according to councillor.
Concerns are growing as more vape shops open up throughout the borough and e-cigarette use is on the rise.
The shop itself isn’t licensable, even though the same rules and regulations apply as they do for the sale of products containing tobacco.There has to be some controls in place to stop them from spreading through our communities at the rate they are right now.
In addition to becoming too stylish, organised crime is also becoming too fashionable.
This is an attack on the stores that sell to young people, not the ones who vape.
In terms of content, illegal drugs, and impact, it is also an attack on those who provide vapes that do not comply with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Authority.
Vaping is significantly less dangerous than smoking, but that doesn’t imply it’s risk-free, continued Councillor Perry. The unknown facts surrounding the use of vapes are the problem we are facing.
Illegal vapes are frequently combined with substances that can seduce and lead to addiction, especially in young people.This motion aims to communicate with the government once more. You must adopt a stricter approach and licence these businesses while also supporting the regional efforts of our trading standards team.
Recently, at least six locations in the heart of Walsall were investigated and punished for selling illicit e-cigarettes, and this practise is likely widespread throughout the borough.
It is a cross-party motion; we are stating the obvious. Let’s put a stop to this one before it worsens and adds to the list of issues we already have to deal with to keep our community secure.
It affects all of our communities, especially our youth.
Children in elementary schools are also affected by this. We’ve seen examples of students in Year 5 and 6 bringing vapes to the schools where I’ve worked.
It’s not from family; instead, strangers are giving them to kids outside. On the way to school, one of the sixth-graders offered to give my family member a vape.
It’s extremely harmful to children’s health if children as young as nine, ten, and eleven smoke e-cigarettes. Because it is being passed on to them, parents occasionally are unaware of this.
If the issues outlined in this article are affecting you, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do what we can to help you with your situation.