3AW host Jacquie Felgate unleashes about Melbourne toy store selling vapes

Concerned parents have unleashed on a ‘loophole’ that allows stores to sell vapes and tobacco products alongside toys targeted to children.

Moonee Ponds Toyland in Melbourne’s northwest has been blasted for hanging a neon ‘we sell tobacco’ sign underneath its business name. 

Jacquie Felgate from 3AW radio posted photos of several tobacco stores selling lollies and toys marketed to children to her Instagram on Tuesday. 

The mother-of-two said the Moonee Ponds Toyland ‘sums it up’. 

‘It’s a loophole that allows traders to sell vapes alongside toys and products targeted to kids. The vapes often contain nicotine which is illegal,’ she wrote. 

Jacquie Felgate from 3AW radio (pictured) posted a series of photos of illegal tobacco stores also selling lollies and toys marketed to children to Instagram on Tuesday

There is no mention of tobacco products in a catalogue of Ben10 figurines, Lego kits, Disney products and baby items listed on the store’s website. 

Parents were quick to slam the retailer for combining toys with tobacco products.

‘WTAF? This is why we need a special part of government called, ‘the department of common sense’ which has overriding powers to squash s*** like this immediately. This is so bloody wrong,’ one woman wrote. 

‘Kids love grabbing a packet of ciggies as they get some new Lego,’ a second said. 

A third shared: ‘This is happening everywhere. These shops popping up marketing themselves as American candy then selling vapes and other smoking paraphernalia.’

Craig Sinclair, director of prevention at the Cancer Council, told 3AW there were too many tobacco stores willing to sell products to children. 

‘It’s still legal unfortunately, and we expect reform to come soon,’ he said. ‘But it’s still legal for retailers to sell e-cigarettes alongside lollies and confectionary.  

‘They are absolutely obligated not to sell them to children but that’s the problem that we know is going on.’

Mr Sinclair said many e-cigarettes still contained nicotine despite labels on the product stating otherwise. 

‘A large proportion of e-cigarettes being sold in these shops have nicotine in them, so that means their actually illegal products,’ he said. 

‘No one is allowed to sell nicotine, e-cigarettes in this state without a prescription.

‘It’s an open game unfortunately. Too many retailers are selling to young kids and many of those products contain nicotine.’

In a photo of another store in Brighton, the store shelves are stocked with cigars, cigarettes, vapes, American candy and popular Prime drinks (pictured)

It is illegal for businesses other than pharmacies to sell vapes and e-cigarettes containing nicotine in Victoria. However, retailers do not require a license to sell tobacco

It is illegal for businesses other than pharmacies to sell vapes and e-cigarettes containing nicotine in Victoria. 

However, stores do not require a license to sell tobacco. A manager must ensure the products are not sold to children under the age of 18. 

Retailers caught selling tobacco to underage children face a fine of up to $9,514. 

In May, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced a major vaping crackdown, including banning popular single-use disposable vapes and barring the import of non-prescription vaping products into Australia.

Adults will only be able to purchase vapes in pharmacies with a prescription rather than in retail stores, and vapes will only be sold in plain packaging and flavours. 

Mr Butler described vaping as the ‘biggest loophole in Australian history’ and the ‘No. 1 behavioural issue in high schools’.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Moonee Ponds Toyland for comment.