Renfrewshire highlighted in UK study examining vape age-checks

Renfrewshire has been highlighted in a UK-wide study examining how effectively age-restriction rules for vaping products are being enforced.

The research, carried out by Vape Superstore, is based on Freedom of Information requests submitted to councils across the UK. It covers the three most recent complete financial years — 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Councils were asked how many test purchase operations they carried out, how many resulted in failures, and whether penalties or fines were issued.

The data shows Renfrewshire Council recorded 14 failures from 20 test purchase operations over the three-year period. This placed Renfrewshire seventh among the ten UK councils reporting the highest number of failures since 2022/23.

Renfrewshire News understands the checks were integrity tests rather than direct underage purchase attempts. In these tests, the purchaser was aged over 18 but under 25 and was not asked to provide identification when attempting to buy a vaping product. Asking for ID is a legal requirement when a customer appears under 25.

By contrast, figures for East Renfrewshire Council show much lower failure rates.

In the 2024/25 financial year, East Renfrewshire carried out eight test purchase operations, with no failures recorded. This placed it joint 119th in the UK alongside 18 other councils that also recorded a zero per cent failure rate that year.

Across the full three-year period since 2022/23, East Renfrewshire recorded two failures from 23 test purchase operations, a failure rate of 8.7 per cent, ranking it 137th nationally.

Elsewhere in the UK, Dorset Council and Herefordshire Council recorded the highest overall failure rates, with all of their reported test purchase operations resulting in failures since 2022/23. Torfaen County Borough Council followed with an 88.9 per cent failure rate.

The study also shows sharp increases in failures in several areas. Glasgow City Council recorded the largest rise, with failures increasing from one case in 2022/23 to 25 in 2024/25.

The findings come amid ongoing concern about youth vaping. Research from Action on Smoking and Health estimates that around 20 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in Great Britain have tried vaping, with around seven per cent currently using vapes, despite the legal minimum purchase age being 18.

Commenting on the findings, David Phillips of Vape Superstore said the data points to weaknesses in age-verification compliance.

“Our research shows there is a clear issue with age-verification compliance in some areas of the UK,” he said. “This undermines the efforts made by retailers who take their legal responsibilities seriously.

“Protecting young people must be a non-negotiable priority. Strong enforcement against those who fail to comply with age-restriction laws is essential.”

Source: Vape Superstore / FOI