Illegal E-cigarette Sales in Germany: Growing Concern

According to a report from Tagesschau on August 7th, a survey by the German e-cigarette industry association (VdeH) found that approximately 75% of vape shops are selling illegal e-cigarettes. The percentage is lower for night markets and convenience stores, but still reaches 20%.

According to reports, the association has taken legal action multiple times against actions that violate current laws. Relevant departments and organizations have also been notified of these issues multiple times, but so far the situation has not fundamentally improved.

Oliver Pohland, General Manager of VdeH, expressed that the association's members strongly oppose the illegal trading of products and the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. He criticized the lack of strong enforcement by the relevant law enforcement agencies, which has led to the flourishing of the illegal market.

Illegal e-cigarettes often contain excessive nicotine and overfilled e-liquid. Many consumers are unaware of this, and these products are primarily targeted at youth. Oliver Polander noted:

The law itself leads to teenagers engaging in smoking behavior. Due to weak regulation and low fines, the illegal market is rampant.

Since April 2016, German law has prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes and electronic hookahs to minors, as well as the use of these products by individuals under 18, regardless of whether they contain nicotine. However, the latest 2023 National Center for Health Education (BZgA) drug affinity study shows that disposable e-cigarettes are particularly popular among teenagers.

According to the study, 6.7% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 are currently using disposable e-cigarettes, and 17% of teenagers have tried this product.

Stephanie Eckhardt of the National Health Education Center pointed out that

Disposable e-cigarettes are the most commonly tried nicotine product among teenagers. These electronic products are specifically targeted at teenagers, with low prices and sweet flavors that mask the harmful effects of the product, making them a focal point of educational efforts.

Although traditional e-cigarette advertisements have been restricted by law, e-cigarette advertisements are everywhere, especially online through bloggers, music videos, movies, and TV dramas. Stephanie Eckhardt stated that

The consumption of nicotine on social media has been shown to have a negative impact on the development of teenagers, particularly by not mentioning the risks and negative consequences of consumption, and instead focusing on the positive aspects of it.

German drug policy commissioner Burkhard Blienert is calling for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes, stating that these products are highly addictive and extremely harmful to the environment, and can easily lead young people into long-term nicotine dependence.