Illegal vapers are being sought after in the UK by the thousands as people use the internet to get their hands on e-cigarettes.
Southampton has an average monthly search volume of 104 per 100,000 residents, according to new figures.
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According to Ben Richardson, CEO of Tidal Vape, this illegal trade is fueled by stores that allow under-18s to purchase vapes.
His concerns come after £300,000 of illegally sold vapes and fake tobacco were seized by Hampshire County Council’s trading standards in the 12 months since March.
“Businesses must be held accountable”
In the UK, it is illegal to sell vapes containing more than 2ml of e-liquid – the equivalent of around 600 puffs.
But vapes containing more than 15 times the legal liquid limit circulate freely across the country.
In light of this, online vape retailer Vapekit.co.uk analyzed the monthly search volume for illegal vapes over the past 12 months.
Southampton is higher than neighboring Portsmouth and Bournemouth, but falls below Eastleigh.
According to statistics, Eastleigh has an average monthly search volume of 116 per 100,000 population, making it a very fertile place to find illegal vapes.
Ben Richardson owns and runs a chain of vape shops across Hampshire.
Although he and his team are “deeply committed” to complying with all health and safety regulations, other retailers do not share the same view.
This leads to significant challenges in the industry that are often not addressed.
Ben said: “What makes this situation worse is that these deals don’t seem to have any consequences, which in turn encourages business.
“When younger people find that a certain shop or area is selling them vapes, it becomes quite concentrated, resulting in certain areas becoming hotspots for illegal vaping.
“Businesses need to be held accountable.”
Ben’s stores have recently been the target of a string of burglaries – targeting two stores in one night.
He said the high demand leads to theft and the search for illegal vapes.
“The illegal market not only undermines these efforts, but also poses serious health risks to users,” said Ben.
“We strongly believe that responsible retail practices and stricter enforcement of age restrictions are essential to tackling the illegal vape trade.
“As a company, we take every precaution to prevent sales to minors and ensure compliance with current health legislation.
“We are committed to working with regulators and other retailers to combat this problem and promote safe, legal and responsible vaping.”
“Black market threatens health”
A third of vapers currently sold in the UK are thought to be non-compliant and this figure could rise significantly with the impending ban on disposable vapes due in 2025.
The growing volume of online searches proves the existence of a growing illegal market on the Internet.
Guy Lawler, chief executive of Vapekit.co.uk, said: “It is incredibly worrying to see illegal vapes becoming more popular in the UK, with many consumers unaware that the products they are buying are untested and potentially dangerous. .
“Vapes are meant to help people quit smoking, but the ever-growing black market is putting people’s health at risk.
“We strongly urge the government to prioritize public health and take urgent action against black market importers and retailers.”
The data was collected from Google Keyword Planner, which provides monthly and annual data on Google search volume for key phrases and terms in the UK and for each UK region.