A Cambridge business has been prosecuted for selling a vape to a 16-year-old. 

In August 2023 officers from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Trading Standards carried out an underage test purchasing exercise following complaints of age registered products being sold to persons underage from a shop known as Sparkles, 103 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.

A 16-year-old volunteer was sold an elf bar 600 e-cigarette (commonly known as a vape).

On April 10, Luxshinii Ltd trading as Sparkles pleaded guilty to selling the vape to an underage person at Peterborough Magistrates Court.

The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £250 as well as a £400 victim surcharge.

This is not the first time the shop has illegally sold age restricted goods. The business also received a formal caution for selling alcohol to an underage volunteer in August 2022.

Peter Gell, service director for regulatory services at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Sales of age restricted products to those who are underage presents a risk to the longer-term health of those that consume them.

“These products are not designed for use by children, and such sales are a concern.

“Sellers of these products need to ensure they and their staff are vigilant in ensuring sales are not made to those too young to buy them.

“Businesses that flagrantly flout the law will continue to be targeted in enforcement exercises.”

If you are concerned that a shop might be selling age restricted products to children, you can report this to Trading Standards through the national reporting line operated by the Citizens Advice Consumer Service 0808 223 1133 or online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer.