Four Wicklow retailers prosecuted for selling vapes to children as HSE ramps up inspections

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Four Wicklow retailers have been prosecuted for selling nicotine-inhaling products to children, while new figures reveal the HSE has significantly increased inspections of vape retailers across Co Wicklow.

The National Environmental Health Service (NEHS), which enforces legislation governing tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products on behalf of the HSE, carried out 20 inspections across the county in 2025, following 19 in 2024, in comparison to just five inspections carried out between 2020 and 2023.

According to the HSE, inspection activity before 2024 was “primarily focused on manufacturers, importers and distributors”.

They later introduced “a compliance-building programme” to engage with retailers, informing them of their legal obligations and the licensing requirements for selling nicotine-inhaling products, which came into effect on February 2, 2026.

Despite the increase in inspections, no nicotine-inhaling products were seized in Co Wicklow between 2020 and 2025. No prohibition orders, compliance notices or other enforcement action was taken against retailers during that period.

However, test purchase operations carried out by environmental health officers in 2024 found four of the seven retailers visited sold nicotine-inhaling products to children.

Smart Store in Bray was fined €3,000, with €1,600 in costs awarded to the HSE. Centra in Greystones also received a €1,500 fine and was ordered to pay €1,400 in costs, while Nice to Go in Bray was fined €1,500 and directed to pay €1,500 in costs.

A fourth prosecution remains before the courts, with the outcome currently under appeal.

In 2025, all seven retailers inspected complied with the legislation.

The HSE noted that selling nicotine-inhaling products to children only became an offence on December 22, 2023, adding that before then “the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to children was not regulated”.

However, selling tobacco products to children has been prohibited since 1988.

In February, gardaí seized more than 1,400 suspected THC and HHC vape and edible products, with an estimated street value of €60,000, during a major operation at a business premises in Bray.

The HSE stressed it “did not carry out any joint operations with An Garda Síochána, Revenue Commissioners or other agencies targeting illegal vape or HHC sales in County Wicklow”.

It also said it “has not identified any emerging trends or concerns regarding the sale of nicotine-inhaling products in County Wicklow”.

Adding that responsibility for enforcing the Misuse of Drugs Act rests with An Garda Síochána, with the HSE’s role limited to enforcing legislation relating to tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products.