Following the day, Jack said:
"Many of my constituents have been in touch with me as they are concerned with the rise in vape shops springing up - and the legality of some of the products they're selling.
So I joined a group of undercover investigators on our high streets in Sunninghill and Windsor to see the problem for myself.
The wide availability of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco was shocking:
In one vape and phone shop, the shopkeeper had a printed list of illicit disposable vapes that he had available. Once selected he fetched the vapes from the rear room.
In another shop, with no legitimate cigarette sales, the shopkeeper reached behind a display of vapes to the left of the counter and retrieved a packs of ‘Marlboro Gold’ and ‘Marlboro Red’. Both of these were fully branded with generic ‘UK Duty Free’ markings (illicit) and not in UK standardised packaging.
If it's happening across our area, it's happening everywhere. I have sent the full report of the investigation locally onto HMRC and Trading Standards.
A number of the products are being marketed to children and are well above the legal size limit.
I am clear. We should be encouraging (legal) vaping for adults who want to quit smoking as a safer alternative. But, I support the strong measures being put in place to BAN advertising them to children."
