Trading Standards officers conducting a test purchase survey were disappointed to discover that 50% of local traders visited sold potentially deadly butane gas canisters to young undercover volunteers.  The project revealed that 4 out of the 8 shops visited sold potentially lethal butane gas to the 16 year old. 

This gas, which is used to refill cigarette lighters, is often abused by young people attempting to get high on the fumes.  Sadly, according to statistics volatile substances kill more young people than controlled drugs and butane cigarette lighter refill now accounts for 64 per cent of all substance abuse deaths.  The cigarette lighter refill is attractive to young people due to its cheap price and common availability.

Such was the level of misuse of gas lighter refills that legislation was introduced in 1999 banning traders from selling them to under-18s. Despite this, traders in the area continue to flout the law with regard to selling age related products. 

Using underage volunteers to attempt to buy dangerous or unhealthy age restricted products (such as fireworks, solvents or cigarettes) is a tactic, which is increasingly being adopted by Trading Standards Officers throughout the UK.   The tactic is used to gauge the level of compliance by the retail trade in ensuring that products capable of misuse or abuse don’t fall in the wrong hands.

Councillor Hugh Hunter, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee said: “I am disappointed to hear that so many retailers were prepared to sell this product, potentially a killer, to young people.  It is irresponsible to sell a harmful product to young people where the likelihood is that they may use it to get high and sadly may lose their lives in the process.  The statistics suggest that there is no typical ‘sniffer’, those who abuse these substances can come from any social, cultural or ethnic background.”

Councillor Hunter added:” Our officers will continue to monitor the sale of age related products in the area and anyone caught selling an age restricted product to a young person will be considered for formal action and possible prosecution.   The trade’s involvement in ensuring that age related products don’t fall in the wrong hands is paramount if we are to reduce the tragic deaths that occur every year as a result of volatile substance abuse.”     

A South Ayrshire Trading Standards spokesperson added, “In this instance formal action has been taken against those who sold a butane cigarette lighter refill.  The exercise will be repeated and anyone caught selling an age related product to a young person will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.  In South Ayrshire there is no excuse for selling age restricted products to young people, especially where the council has made available age related information packs and issued all secondary education youngsters with a Young Scot proof of age card.  Our advice is if you’re unsure about the age of the person ask for proof of age - no proof means no sale.”

If you know or suspect anyone selling butane cigarette lighter refills to young people under 18, you can contact the Trading Standards Advice Centre in total confidence Mon -Sat on Ayr 616060. 

October 2006