Kent County Council to Combat Illegal E-Cigarette Sales to Teenagers

On August 31st, the Kent County Council announced plans to launch a two-year project in the autumn aimed at cracking down on illegal retailers selling e-cigarettes to teenagers. This initiative comes in response to data showing an upward trend in youth e-cigarette usage.

The project will specifically target store owners who sell e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18, while also educating users about the dangers associated with e-cigarettes. Store owners who persist in violating the legal statutes will be subject to legal litigation.

In July, the Kent County Council voted to urge a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes across the United Kingdom.

Documents from Kent County Council show that while the smoking rate among young people has declined, recent reports indicate an increase in the use of e-cigarettes among school-aged children.

Officials expressed concerns over the proliferation of e-cigarettes, fearing that it could expose more young individuals to a "new avenue of smoking, particularly given the strong addictiveness of nicotine.

Documents from Kent County Council state:

We are funding a two-year project that aims to develop a systematic plan to educate e-cigarette suppliers and retailers about complying with age restrictions on e-cigarette sales. This project will provide resources and materials to support compliance and will take legal action against retailers who persist in violating regulations, if necessary.

John Dunne, the Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), has raised concerns about the influx of illegal, untested, and potentially lethal black market products in the market.