This consultation seeks views on draft regulations to introduce a minimum age of sale of 18 for the purchase of nicotine inhaling products, including e-cigarettes, in England and Wales.
2. Background
2.1. In summary, the Government is introducing an age of sale restriction because:
- children should be protected from the risk of addiction
- the use of nicotine in adolescence can alter brain development
- use and awareness of e-cigarettes among children is increasing
- e-cigarettes can be appealing to children
- we do not know conclusively whether e-cigarettes act as a ‘gateway’ into the use of tobacco
- we do not know about the effect of the use of e-cigarettes on the developing lungs of children
- the Government wishes to remove existing uncertainty on age of sale and provide clarity and consistency to assist manufacturers and retailers
2.2. The Government recognises that responsible manufacturers already recommend that their products are for use by adults only. Responsible retailers already voluntarily restrict children from accessing e-cigarettes. However, some do not. A number of manufacturers and retailers of e-cigarettes have called for a minimum age of sale to be introduced.
2.3. To support retailers to implement age of sale requirements for nicotine inhaling products, the proposed regulations have been developed to be consistent with existing age of sale requirements relating to the sale of tobacco and other age restricted products.
