There are calls for the federal government to crackdown on the alarming availability of nicotine-laced vapes finding their way into convenience stores across the country.

The Australian newspaper’s social media producer Claire Brownlie went to six tobacconists and convenience stores on the South Coast to see if she should purchase vaping products.

She told Ray Hadley the results were alarming.

She was readily able to buy what she described as black-market and imported vapes laced with nicotine.

“This experience was quite confronting, realising how little regulations there are on these vaping products.”

Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Wollongong, Dr Jody Morgan, told Ray the biggest risk is anyone vaping can get addicted.

“We know that the vapour does contain low levels of toxic chemicals.”

Press PLAY below to her explain the alarming risks

CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, Theo Foukkare, said they represent around 6,500 convenience stores and service stations.

He says the unbranded stores are the ones “blatantly breaking the law”.

“It’s rife,” he said.

He said there was an out of control black market.

Press PLAY below to hear what he says needs to happen