Mum calls on schools to act over vape bars
AFOSTER motherof-three has raised concerns about vape bars, after finding two in her teenage daughter’s school bag - and believes her school is not doing enough to tackle the problem.
The vapes, which she believes to be marketed towards children due to their bright colours and flavours such as bubblegum and strawberry, are said to have nicotine levels of up to five percent, more than twice the legal maximum of two percent.
The concerned mum has three children - a boy, nine, and two girls, 12 and 14, who both attend a school in Rochdale. The
Observer has not named the school to protect their identity.
She said: “I see all the kids coming out of school with them.
“It’s a big problem. I never thought my daughter would do this, she’s 14. “She’s naive.” The mum believes the students are buying them from local shops for as little as a fiver.
She added: “I had a meeting with the school.
“The teacher said it’s a problem in Rochdale not just their school.
“I thought ‘Why not tell the parents this?’”
She discovered her daughter had been using her tram money for the vapes, by jumping the tram, and found a second vape in her bag a few weeks later.
She added: “I have fostered her since she was a baby - she is like my daughter, and a straight-a student.
“She now has to walk to school and I have taken her phone off her.
“She is now grounded Monday to Friday and not allowed into town at the weekends.
“It beggars belief if the school are aware of the problem as to why we as parents were not made aware.
“My daughter is a great girl and I wouldn’t expect it.
“The kids have not got a clue how dangerous they are and parents don’t know about them.
“It’s really wrong that they’re geared towards kids.”
In a statement, Coun
Sara Rowbotham, deputy leader of Rochdale Borough Council said: “We are aware that there is a problem with under 18 year olds accessing vape/e-cigarettes within the borough.
“This is a problem that happens all over the country and is not unique to Rochdale.
“All traders that we receive complaints about will be visited and advised accordingly, in addition we will also be doing our own test purchases.
“We take the matter very seriously.
“The maximum penalty to someone found selling vapes to under 18 year olds is £2,500.
“Any information can be forwarded to us at trading.standards@rochdale. gov.uk “