New crackdown on vaping and illegal tobacco in North Yorkshire on its way amid rising concern
“Lightwater Valley near Ripon bans smoking, including e-cigarettes, everywhere in the park except designated smoking areas”
Vapers heading to a popular theme park near Ripon this half term could be removed if they vape in the wrong spot, according to the parks' own rules.
Lightwater Valley near Ripon bans smoking, including e-cigarettes, everywhere in the park except designated smoking areas, including in the queues for admission and rides.
Shane Margereson, founder of Ecigone, a five-time award-winning UK online vape shop, says Lightwater Valley’s smoking policy means staff can "refuse admission or to evict guests" who break it.
The comments come amid a wider crackdown on vaping both nationwide and in North Yorkshire.
Vaping is not illegal per se for adults in the UK.
But it has been illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK since June 2025.
It is also illegal to sell any vaping or nicotine products to anyone under 18, and proxy purchasing (buying vapes for a minor) is also banned.
This week has seen North Yorkshire Council unveil new and innovative proposals to tackle illegal tobacco and vape sales to protect consumers across the county.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive is being asked to approve a revised policy for the county’s trading standards team, reflecting significant changes in national legislation and the need for new approaches to address the growing range of threats to residents and legitimate businesses.
If supported at the meeting on Tuesday, October 27, the updated framework will help the council’s officers respond more effectively to issues ranging from underage tobacco and vape sales to online scams and rogue traders.
North Yorkshire Council's executive member for managing our environment, Coun Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said: “By targeting those who deliberately flout the law and protecting consumers from harm, we are helping to create a level playing field for responsible businesses and safeguarding some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
The councils’ new approach would introduce the use of fixed penalty notices for certain offences under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, alongside existing enforcement options, including prosecution, where businesses deliberately break the law, particularly when selling tobacco or vape products to children.