The organisation’s acting director,Craig Sinclair,said these stores were often located near schools or along routes to them.
“Many of them are based on a model where they’re providing not just vapes,but they’re also outlets for confectionery and other items that would appear to be attractive purchases for young people,” he said. “They are clearly taking advantage of the vulnerability of young people.”
Parents from all over Melbourne,including in Seddon,Moonee Ponds and Reservoir,have contacted his organisation to raise concerns about vape shops appearing in their neighbourhood.
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The Age visited Chapel Street in Melbourne’s south-east last week and counted 18 vape retailers,with 12 also selling lollies,chips,drinks and even skateboards and toys.
Brooke Alexander is worried about the saturation of vaping shops along the popular shopping strip. She said her 14-year-old daughter regularly visited Chapel Street after she finished class at St Michael’s Grammar School in nearby St Kilda.
“They have gone to an awful lot of trouble to make these shops attractive to teenagers,” said Alexander,whose daughter doesn’t vape – something she credits to her school’s drug education program.