Illegal vapes are being brazenly sold to children, according to a vape shop owner who says his business is being “tarred with the same brush”.

Simon Lawrence, who has KwikVape in Worthing, claims to have witnessed “illegal products” being sold to children in more than a dozen stores.

The "6,000 puff" vapes can be bought wholesale for as little as £3 but are being sold for up to £20 by retailers, according to Simon.

The father-of-two has called for West Sussex County Council “to get on with it” and seize the vapes, which he said are designed to look appealing to under 18s.

The Argus: One of illegal vapes that Simon purchased is designed to look like a milkshakeOne of illegal vapes that Simon purchased is designed to look like a milkshake (Image: Supplied)

Simon claimed the vapes being sold contain 20mg of nicotine but are “in excess of nine or ten times the legal maximum liquid capacity” in the UK.

He said: “I have been to several shops and seen kids being served. I have bought illegal products and kept the receipts but nothing is changing.

“The vapes are not tested to UK standards. Vape shops all get tarred by the same brush even though I follow all the regulations. As a parent of two teenagers as well, it is concerning.

“I have notified them of the shops in question. This has been going on for many months, we just think what is going on? The council need to get on with it and get Trading Standards in there. It needs to be seized.

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“It is just wrong and nobody knows how dangerous these vapes are. No one knows what is in them.

“If ever asked for ID, kids just flash a college badge. Trading Standards do not have the resources to cope with it.

“It is a retailer problem. Treat it the same as alcohol, if you get caught you get banned.”

Current UK laws restrict the capacity of vape tanks to 2ml, which is around 600 puffs. 

The vapes that Simon bought advertise themselves as 6,000 puffs, which would make them 20ml and ten times the legal tank size.

A 20mg vape which has a capacity of 20ml capacity, 6,000 puffs worth, is equivalent of up to 480 cigarettes.

The Argus: An illegal 6,000 puff vapeAn illegal 6,000 puff vape (Image: Supplied)

One of the vapes he bought was designed to look like a milkshake with a straw as the mouth piece.

West Sussex County Council said it is aware of the stores that Simon has flagged but cannot comment on specific allegations currently.

It also referred to 14 examples of its crackdown on shops selling products that are illegal for under 18s.

Most of these examples however were of shops having licences banned for alcohol, not vape products.

A spokesman for the council said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases, we would like to emphasise that we take such allegations seriously and will always take decisive action if appropriate.

“The supply of age-restricted products to children is a priority for the service and an intervention is initiated in response to all reports received.

“We would also like to highlight the proactive efforts of West Sussex Trading Standards in tackling two key areas around vaping: the illegal sale of nicotine-containing vapes to minors and the supply of non-compliant vaping devices, both of which are national issues. 

“If any trader sells age-restricted products, particularly alcohol, during a test purchase operation then the Trading Standards Service will apply for a review of the alcohol licence in addition to any formal action that may be taken against the trader.

“Since January 2022, 15 alcohol licence reviews have been applied for in relation to age-restricted sales across West Sussex, with outcomes varying from full revocation of licence to suspensions and extra licensing conditions imposed.

“West Sussex County Council has launched a two-year collaboration between Public Health and Trading Standards, funding two dedicated officers focusing on illicit tobacco and vaping-related issues. Additionally, the government has proposed a £3 million initiative for an 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' to assist local authorities.”

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that the government is set to ban disposable vapes altogether due to concerns that children were becoming addicted to them.