Local Vape Action (LVA)

• LVA’s primary purpose is to support the development of effective local strategies, ensure that vapes are only used and accessed by adults in local communities, with a particular emphasis on preventing underage vaping and increasing retail compliance.
• LVA’s mission is achieved via a partnership approach embracing Education (of all vape retailers), Engagement (of the local community), Enforcement (linked to Challenge 25 policy and preventing proxy purchase) and Evaluation (of LVA projects).

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Local Vape Action (LVA) is a partnership approach to tackling vaping issues at a local level. Bringing together the vape sector via the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA)[¹] and local authority partners to identify and target specific areas. LVA’s work is inspired by the work of the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP). LVA is beginning with pilot approaches in the South East (Tunbridge Wells) as identified by local authority partners in Kent. The results of this pilot and other planned pilot phases will inform the ongoing development of a national LVA that is set to launch in 2025, that will provide support to local LVA projects across the UK.

[1] The IBVTA is the trade organisation for all responsible and ethical independent vape businesses and represents the UK’s leading vape manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers. The IBVTA and its members are entirely independent from the tobacco industry.

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• The national LVA that will be formally launched in 2025 would identify local needs, facilitate the assembly of the local LVA partnership, offer start-up funding and expert advice, provide a toolkit of interventions, share best practice gathered across the national LVA network and supply a rigorous evaluation system. A key part of the support offer is the development of a team of highly skilled regional advisers whose role is to provide advice and support to local partnerships.
• Each local LVA scheme or project will devise an action plan that is uniquely tailored to local need with the overarching aims to protect children and young people from vape harm and increasing compliance particularly among retailers.

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Tunbridge Wells (Kent)

• A pilot project involving local partners from trading standards, police, community safety teams, public health and the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA)[¹] is taking place during autumn 2024. The aim and focus of the project is to address under-age vape sales through a series of interventions, supported by a communications campaign. For more information on the pilot project please contact [email protected].

[1] The IBVTA is the trade organisation for all responsible and ethical independent vape businesses and represents the UK’s leading vape manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers. The IBVTA and its members are entirely independent from the tobacco industry.

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