Since New Zealand banned the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors under 18 two years ago, only six e-cigarette stores have received violation notices. However, Fair Go conducted a secret investigation and found that in just one city, three stores sold e-cigarettes to underage customers in one afternoon.
The Ministry of Health has stated that they have been busy responding to the epidemic. In a statement, Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ stated that "our public health services will now focus more on our important compliance and enforcement activities, including the sale of e-cigarette products." However, there is currently no data indicating how many compliance visits and controlled purchasing operations the department has conducted. This information was discovered by Fair Go after conducting a secret investigation of e-cigarette retailers in Gisborne.
Fair Go sent a group of children, equipped with hidden cameras and microphones, to purchase electronic cigarettes from dairy stores and specialty shops. The investigation discovered that three stores sold electronic cigarettes to a 17-year-old without asking for identification, and one store was prepared to sell to a 14-year-old. When confronted with this, retailers responded by saying "we are human, we make mistakes. We work long hours. These kids keep trying to buy electronic cigarettes.
Te Tairāwhiti public health officials conducted two controlled purchasing operations in Gisborne this year and found a retailer selling e-cigarette products to minors. Health Minister Dr Anura Jayasinghe said the retailer has been referred to the Ministry of Health. The public health department followed up on the controlled purchasing operations, sending educational information to all e-cigarette suppliers in the area regarding their legal responsibilities.
Letitia Harding, CEO of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, has stated that vaping is a growing trend among young people. The foundation is calling for changes to limit the number of stores selling e-cigarettes and their proximity to schools. They also hope to see a reduction in the maximum levels of nicotine according to the EU standard of 20mg/100ml.
According to Hardin, the electronic cigarettes contain 50 milligrams of nicotine. We have heard from both teenagers and parents that their children can finish one electronic cigarette and intake 50 milligrams of nicotine in as little as two to three hours. Hardin explains that this is equivalent to smoking one and a half packs of cigarettes.
Ayesha Verrall, the Deputy Minister of Health, has stated that she has no plans to regulate the strength of electronic cigarettes. "We need to continue to support smokers in successfully switching to products that are less harmful. Lowering nicotine levels in e-cigarette products could hinder this," Verrall said in a statement.
Last week, Verrall proposed a bill to parliament that would tighten regulations on e-cigarette shops among other provisions. The new law would require thousands of dairy factories, service stations, and supermarkets to obtain licenses in order to join the 830 professional shops that primarily earn revenue from selling e-cigarette products in R18 venues, which must now also obtain licenses. The New Zealand Ministry of Health has pledged to conduct more compliance checks and enforce e-cigarette laws.
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