Controlling Youth Access to E-Cigarette in Aberdeen

Aberdeen, UK, is taking measures to regulate young people's access to tobacco and e-cigarette products through a retail charter. Members of the Aberdeen Community, Housing, and Public Protection Committee have expressed concerns about the increasing problem of "proxy purchasing" of tobacco and nicotine e-cigarette products, particularly disposable e-cigarettes.

"Daigou" refers to adults who purchase age-restricted products on behalf of teenagers who are too young to buy them themselves. This practice is considered a criminal offense enforced by the Aberdeen City Council Trading Standards Service, although it is often challenging to detect and prove.

The retailers' charter will strive to collaborate with retailers, placing emphasis on methods to detect and prevent such behavior, while also continuing to focus on existing legal responsibilities regarding age-restricted products.

The chairperson of the Community, Housing, and Public Protection Committee, Member Miranda Radley, stated, "There is an increasing public concern regarding the exposure of young people to tobacco and e-cigarette products and the potential negative impact it may have on their health. We need to continue collaborating with retailers to ensure that young people cannot access these products, and to ensure that retailers are always aware of their legal responsibilities."

In a statement, Congressman Dell Henrickson emphasized the utmost importance of prioritizing the health and well-being of our city's youth. Expressing concerns over the detrimental effects of tobacco and e-cigarette products on their health, especially among young individuals, Henrickson stressed the critical need for collaboration between policymakers and retailers to address this issue.