Londoners residents want tougher measures to tackle underage vapes sales. Over half the city’s residents expressed concerns about the issue, according to a new study by Britain in Focus.

Under UK law, a person must be 18 or over to buy vapes. But according to the study, commissioned by BAT UK, the largest UK-based vape manufacturer, most respondents think that underage sales of vapes are common or very common in the region.

Commenting on how a licence is not required to sell vapes, one respondent from Richmond said,

“It doesn’t surprise me [that no licence is required]. It’s easier than getting a pint of milk. It needs to be stopped at the root cause, the shopkeepers.”

The findings come at a time when the Government is proposing new sweeping laws for vapes, via the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Introduced to parliament in April, the Bill proposes several changes to how nicotine products – including cigarettes and vapes – can be sold and marketed in the UK. The Bill also includes a generational smoking ban, restrictions on vape marketing and flavours, alongside the introduction of £100 on the spot fines (fixed penalty fines) for shops which sell tobacco and vapes to the underage.

But according to the new research, Londoners do not think the Government is doing enough.

Nearly three quarters of residents want the Government to introduce a new vaping licence for shopkeepers, something not currently included in the Government’s plans. Many also think that the proposed £100 fine is too low, with £1,000 considered the right level by many.

“There is a narrow window to get this right with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The introduction of a retail licence and increased fines would provide a much greater measure of control around who can sell vapes and help keep these products out of the hands of the underage,” said Asli Ertonguc, the UK lead for BAT.