Rise in Illegal e-Cigarette Sales Prompts Crackdown by Liverpool Council

Sep.04.2024
Rise in Illegal e-Cigarette Sales Prompts Crackdown by Liverpool Council
Liverpool Express reported on September 3 that Liverpool City Council's ATU has seized over 30,000 e-cigarettes worth £360,000 since October 2023, closing 26 shops.

According to the Liverpool Express report on September 3, 2023, the Alcohol and Tobacco Unit (ATU) of Liverpool City Council in the UK has seized over 30,000 e-cigarettes since October 2023, with an estimated value of £360,000, and has closed down 26 shops.


Last week, two stores in the Wavertree area, Rathbone Express and Grab & Go, were shut down for illegal selling. Both stores were given a three-month closure order by the Wirral Magistrates’ Court.


All e-cigarettes that were seized were determined to be illegal products because their nicotine content exceeded the legal limit of 20 milligrams per milliliter and 600 puffs. These illegal e-cigarettes are typically sold under names such as "Unicorn Juice" and "Strawberry Sensation.


Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Welfare, and Culture, Harry Doyle, stated,


Our ongoing work with alcohol and tobacco shows that we will not tolerate the sale of illegal and potentially dangerous e-cigarette products in Liverpool. Our primary goal is to protect our residents, especially our young people, from the risks of these unregulated products.


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