Stores in Gloucestershire sold knives and vapes to under-18s
A Trading Standards operation was held during August 2025 and involved volunteers from Gloucestershire Constabulary’s police cadets, aged between 15 and 17, who attempted to purchase the age-restricted products.
Intelligence received from members of the public led to the operation to test whether stores were being responsible, training staff and abiding by legal requirements.
In total 27 stores were visited, and nine sales were made to underage volunteers. They included vapes, alcohol and a corrosive substance.
In addition, Trading Standards worked with Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Borough Councils on Operation Shield, which is targeting anti-social behaviour in town centres. As part of the operation, a further 21 local and national stores were visited in Tewkesbury and Cheltenham and five of these stores sold vaping products and knives to the volunteers.
The teenagers entered the stores and selected an age-restricted product. The majority of stores correctly challenged the volunteers, but 14 of these stores made the sale without any checks and the volunteers were able to leave with the product.
Trading Standards have written to the stores concerned and will be visiting them to offer advice and guidance. Further action could be taken if they were found to sell to young people again in the future.
It is an offence to sell alcohol, knives, vapes and certain corrosive substances to under-18s and the penalties for failing a test purchase can include an unlimited fine and withdrawal of the premises’ licence to sell alcohol.
Sales of restricted items were made in each district of Gloucestershire.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Of the 48 stores tested in total, it is sad to see that there were 14 sales of age-restricted products. It is vital that retailers ensure that they challenge the age of anyone who may look to be under 25, train their staff correctly and have robust systems to stop these sales of potentially dangerous and harmful products.
“Vaping is harmful to children and young people because their developing lungs and brains are more sensitive to its effects. It can damage concentration, memory and mood, and most vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive.
“If on subsequent visits Trading Standards find the shops selling again then they may face formal investigation that could include a criminal prosecution.”
Any child or young person who would like support to stop vaping can contact the Gloucestershire Healthy Lifestyles Service Home (HLSGlos) on 0800 755 5533 and a qualified lifestyle coach will offer free support to help you stop vaping.
If anyone suspects a retailer of selling restricted items to under-18s, they can report the matter to tradingstandards@gloucestershire.gov.uk or by calling 0808 0808 223 1133.