Trading standards lack resources to stop retailers selling vapes to London children
- Posted on September 15, 2026
- By Evening Standard
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
London's trading standards enforcement agencies face severe operational challenges due to prolonged budget cuts, compromising their ability to combat illegal vape sales targeting minors. Senior regulatory officials warn that decades of austerity measures have critically weakened enforcement mechanisms, enabling retailers to circumvent age restrictions. The deteriorating capacity to monitor compliance threatens public health initiatives aimed at protecting young people from nicotine addiction.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Trading standards lack resources to stop retailers selling vapes to London children
Years of austerity have eroded the capital’s enforcement capacity to a critical point, top official has warned
