- An investigation by Which? revealed that underage consumers are easily accessing age-restricted products and services, including nicotine vapes and cosmetic surgery, on high streets across the UK.
- Undercover shoppers aged 14 to 17 successfully purchased nicotine vapes from five out of eight shops visited in London, with some retailers failing to ask for ID or proceeding with the sale despite the shopper admitting they had none.
- A 17-year-old girl was able to book and receive a consultation for a lip filler appointment without any age verification, despite it being illegal to administer or arrange such treatments for individuals under 18 in England.
- Which? attributed these breaches to a perception among 'rogue businesses' that they can break the law without serious consequences, largely due to the severe strain on Trading Standards departments.
- Both Which? and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) are calling for urgent action, with Which? advocating for a restructured consumer enforcement system and CTSI urging significant investment to bolster Trading Standards and protect consumers.
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