UKVIA welcome the regulations outlined in the Tobacco Products Directive, which prohibits the sale of vaping devices to under 18s in the UK. Vaping amongst young people in the UK remains very rare, with recent Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) research finding no more than 2% of under 18s using vaping devices more than once a month.
We believe that vaping product flavours are an important part of encouraging the UK’s 7m smokers to switch to vaping products, which Public Health England states are at least 95% less harmful than smoking. We are clear that no vaping products should be marketed or designed deliberately to appeal to minors.
Regulation should focus on robust manufacturing and compliance and we continue to work with the relevant authorities to develop such standards further. The sale of vaping products and vaping liquids is regulated by law and is subject to the same levels of control as tobacco products. Every major retailer should have rigorous policies and training practices, including awareness campaigns and till prompts, to ensure that the sale of such products is in full compliance with the law.