00:00For years, health officials and trading standards teams have worked to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking,
00:06vaping and drinking alcohol.
00:08Now, new figures suggest those efforts may have been having a significant impact on Liverpool.
00:14The latest youth survey from Trading Standards Northwest found that regular smoking among 14 to 17-year-olds has fallen
00:20to just 1%.
00:21According to the survey, 93% of young people questioned said they'd never even tried a cigarette.
00:27The findings also show a substantial drop in vaping.
00:31In 2023, 38% of respondents said they vaped. This year, that figure's fallen to 20%.
00:38Alcohol use has followed a similar pattern.
00:41The survey found 72% of Liverpool teenagers say they have never consumed alcohol, compared with 50% over the
00:50same period.
00:50The annual survey has been running since 2005, and this year involved 622 young people in Liverpool.
00:58Trading Standards Northwest says the results help it monitor access to age-restricted products and identify potential risks facing young
01:06people.
01:07Despite the overall decline, some of those who vape or drink reported obtaining products through friends, family members or local
01:14retailers.
01:16Liverpool City Council says its Trading Standards teams continue to investigate reports of illegal sales to under-18s.
01:23The process begins with advice and guidance for retailers before under-age test purchases are carried out by trained volunteers.
01:29The process begins with advice and guidance for warned doctors, local authorities.
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