Three retailers in Essex, including a shop on the High Street in Colchester, Essex, were sentenced on February 17, 2026, for selling vapes to a 14-year-old child. The legal action followed undercover checks where a young volunteer was able to buy nicotine products without being asked for any identification.
According to Essex Trading Standards, the director of Arjun Traders Limited in Colchester was fined £323, plus victim surcharge and costs. The sale occurred in April 2025 during an operation designed to ensure local businesses follow age-restricted sales laws.
Similar illegal sales took place at shops in Harlow and Braintree during the same period. In Harlow, one retailer was also found selling a peach-flavoured vape with over 4,000 puffs, which is an oversized product that is illegal to sell in the UK regardless of the buyer’s age.
The business in Braintree, Aznibaan Limited, was ordered to pay over £9000 in total costs. Councillor Mark Durham of Essex County Council said the prosecutions serve as a stern warning that the council will protect young people from nicotine addiction.
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