The LGA has called for strict new measures to regulate the display and marketing of vaping products in the same way as tobacco, to crack down on a rise in stores selling to children.
These measures include: vapes to be in plain packaging and kept out of sight behind the counter; mandatory age-of-sale signage on vaping products; and a ban on giving out free samples to people of any age.
Penalties for breaching these rules should be the same as those handed out under tobacco-display regulations.
Many local areas have seen a spate of incidents where shops have been caught selling vapes to youngsters, with councils having to step up enforcement activity to deal with the issue.
In a Chartered Trading Standards Institute survey, 60 per cent of local trading standards services said high street shops selling illicit vapes or vaping products to children was the enforcement issue that most concerned them.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “It is not right that stores are able to prominently display vaping paraphernalia for all to see, often in bright, colourful packaging that can appeal to children.
“Vapes should only be used as an aid to quit smoking.
“While research has shown vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking, it is deeply worrying that more children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping.
“Vaping is by no means risk-free, so it is very alarming that young people are getting access to, and using, e-cigarettes.
“This is why we are calling for tougher and stricter regulation of vaping products, to tackle the growing cases of children getting hold of them.”