Call for council to take action over illegal vapes

A safeguarding agency described the shop as an "unsafe and criminal environment".

A convenience store accused of "keeping smuggled goods" and selling vapes to children is having its license reviewed.

A report detailed 1,176 illegal vapes seized from Jordanthorpe Food & Wine on Dyche Lane, Sheffield over the course of three visits by Trading Standards, after it received complaints about vapes being sold to under-18s

The report's publication comes ahead of Sheffield City Council's licensing committee meeting on 8 April.

South Yorkshire Police said the sale of illegal vapes is closely linked to organised crime gangs and urged the committee to revoke the store's license, with a safeguarding agency labelling it an "unsafe and criminal environment".

Safeguarding concerns

Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership (SCSP) called on the council to "take positive action to address the safeguarding concerns at this premises".

In February 2023, 468 illegal vapes were seized, followed by a further 466 seized a year later, and a further 242 confiscated in December 2024.

A mystery shopper for Trading Standards was also able to buy a Skittles-flavoured Hayati 5000 puff vape for £10 in January this year, despite the agency's requests for the shop to stop selling illegal products.

The report states: "The vapes seized on each occasion are suspected to have been smuggled or illegally imported, as they are not permitted to be sold in the UK."

Trading Standards, SCSP and South Yorkshire Police have all recommended the sub-licensing committee revokes the shop's licence, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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