UNDERAGE VAPE SALES DOUBLE IN ONE YEAR

Campaigners say it is only tip of iceberg and vaping firms must take responsibility

- DAN VEVERS

UNDERAGE e-cig sales in Scotland have nearly doubled in the space of a year as the nation's youth vaping epidemic worsens.

Reports to councils of kids being illegally sold vape devices soared by 80 per cent from 383 cases in 2022 to 684 last year, the highest jump for any UK nation.

The data, obtained from town halls through freedom of information, shows the trend of rising youth vaping but campaigners said it captured just a fraction of sales to children and teens-with most not getting caught.

Scottish Greens health spokeswoman Gillian Mackay said the figures were likely to be the "tip of the iceberg". She added: "This is really concerning and points to some disturbing trends." It comes after a previous survey found one in four 15-year-old Scots admits to regularly vaping.

But the latest findings also highlight an increasing crackdown on rogue traders, with 146 shops caught selling vapes to kids in 2023, up from 63 the year before.