Chapel St: TSG Tobacco Station in Windsor caught selling vapes to teens

A concerned mother of a 14-year-old girl has slammed the owners of a Chapel St tobacconist after discovering the teen bought illegal nicotine-containing vapes without ID.

TSG tobacconist in Windsor has been caught selling vapes to minors. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A mother of a young teen has slammed the owners of a Chapel St tobacconist after discovering her daughter purchased illegal nicotine-containing vapes without presenting identification.

The concerned mother told the Herald Sun she was left angered after her 14-year-old daughter was able to purchase a strawberry flavoured vape from TSG Tobacco Station in Windsor earlier this week.

The teen’s bank statement, seen by the Herald Sun, shows a transaction on Tuesday, June 13 for the vape that cost $30, with the entity name belonging to the Windsor tobacconist.

Images show the nicotine vapes the teen purchased were IGET bars, which range from $15 to $50.

Vapes containing nicotine are being sold to minors in Windsor. Picture: Supplied

The mum said she confronted her daughter about the purchase after suspecting she was smoking nicotine vapes.

“I was so upset to discover she was smoking the vapes, but when I found out she bought them without ID, I was furious,” she said.

The mother said there needed to be stronger enforcement to police the illegal sales of vapes.

“Whoever is charged with policing this is not doing their job. As taxpayers we’re paying twice, once for the law enforcement that is failing and then again for the health costs when the long-term effects materialise.”

She said she suspected her daughter had been vaping for about a year.

“The first sign was phone charger leads with the ends cut off and wires exposed.

“Apparently this is how the teens try to recharge spent vapes.

“I’ve found a couple of butchered vapes and was upset at the whole disgusting business model of selling strawberry, fairy floss flavours.

“I’ve asked in the past where the vapes come from and have been told that a place in Windsor sells to school kids. But she wouldn’t tell me which business.”

It comes after a series of investigations by the Herald Sun, which previously exposed several vape shops and tobacconists across Chapel St and other suburbs selling illegal vapes to young teens in school uniform.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive Todd Harper said it was challenging for officials to prosecute shops selling to children because it was still legal to hold and sell non-nicotine e-cigarettes – and impossible to distinguish between the two types of products.

illegal IGET vapes containing nicotine are being sold to minors in Windsor. Picture: Supplied

“To support the Australian Government’s efforts to halt the importation of any e-cigarettes, except those intended for prescription supply, Victoria needs to amend the Act,” he said.

“This amendment should prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes, except those prescribed and sold exclusively through pharmacies. Implementing such a change will make it feasible for authorities to enforce the existing laws.”

Mr Harper said the state government should consider following states like NSW and Queensland by confiscating stock suspected to contain nicotine and subjecting the products to testing.

Recent data from Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer shows fewer than 1 per cent of 14-17-year-olds reported vaping in 2018.

In 2022, that figure sat at 11.8 per cent and 14.5 per cent in early 2023.

A Victoria Police spokesman said vaping was predominantly a health issue.

“Victoria Police aims to address all forms of offending, but prioritises the allocation of its resources toward preventing and responding to crime causing the most harm,” he said.

The spokesman said police conducted enforcement activities against businesses illegally selling vapes, often in collaboration with authorised officers from local councils.

“However, we have a broader focus on education and prevention. This has included engaging with schools to help inform parents and staff.”

In April, two warrants were executed by police at tobacconists in Carlton and Melbourne, with 2737 nicotine e-cigarettes and 57 vape refills seized.

Last year, $48,109 worth of vapes was seized at a Tattersalls Agent in Taylors Hill in August, and 1154 vapes in June worth $30,000.

TSG Windsor was contacted for comment.