UK Takes Action Against Illegal E-cigarette Sales

Apr.18.2023
UK Takes Action Against Illegal E-cigarette Sales
UK government takes action against illegal e-cigarette sales and criticizes companies for advertising to children.

On April 18th, according to Sky News, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized e-cigarette companies for advertising that appeals to children during an interview with the news outlet. He also stated that the government has taken action to combat illegal e-cigarette sales.


Rishi Sunak | Photo source: Politico


Criticism of E-cigarette Advertising


During an interview with Sky News, Sunak criticized e-cigarette companies for targeting children with colorful advertising and characters.


He told the host:


These e-cigarette advertisements aim to attract children.


This includes the colors, characters, and flavors that were used. He commented, "These are all things that should not have happened.


Sunak believes that no one under 18 should use e-cigarettes, and selling them to children is illegal. However, he acknowledged that they are aware of an increasing number of young people using e-cigarettes.


He went on to say:


We want to prevent this situation.


Crackdown on the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes.


The British government has recently announced that it will launch an "illegal e-cigarette enforcement team" as part of efforts to crack down on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to minors under the age of 18.


Therefore, we are engaged in a few endeavors. One of them involves the formation of a task force specifically aimed at cracking down on illicit activities.


According to Sunak, the British government has invested millions of pounds to ensure the proper enforcement of regulations and prevent the sale of e-cigarettes to young people. He also emphasized that anyone who sells e-cigarettes to minors will face consequences, while those who sell to adults will take responsibility for any harmful effects caused.


Seeking the opinions of the public.


In addition, the UK government has launched an "evidence gathering" campaign to research ways to reduce children's exposure to and use of e-cigarette products.


Surnack added that the government is also seeking the best ideas from people to prevent children from using e-cigarettes.


You know, we spend time talking to people, listening, gathering ideas, and then making the right decisions.


Further reading:


The Guardian: 73% of e-cigarette liquids in the UK exceed the permitted levels, with 8 zero nicotine products found to contain nicotine during testing.


The UK is planning to crack down on illegal e-cigarettes. The industry association has said that it will provide the necessary resources to support this effort.


The UK government will allocate £3 million to establish a law enforcement team to crack down on shops that sell e-cigarettes to minors.


Reference(s):


Chancellor Rishi Sunak has criticized companies that manufacture and sell vape products for attempting to appeal to children.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
E-cigarette brand GEEKBAR has recently launched its new product, the GEEKBAR MATE 60K, on its official website. The product adopts a pod-based system, consisting of a reusable 900mAh device and a pod prefilled with 15ml of e-liquid and equipped with a built-in 200mAh battery, bringing the total battery capacity to 1100mAh. It supports both Regular and Pulse modes.
Mar.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
California Bill Would Let Schools Include Nicotine in Student-Athlete Drug Screens
California Bill Would Let Schools Include Nicotine in Student-Athlete Drug Screens
California lawmakers are advancing a bill that would allow schools with existing student-athlete drug testing programs to include nicotine in those screenings.
Apr.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Filing Shows RIF Notices for 229 CTP Employees Were Largely Rescinded
FDA Filing Shows RIF Notices for 229 CTP Employees Were Largely Rescinded
A court declaration signed by FDA official Melanie M. Keller on March 24, 2026 detailed the status of previously issued reduction-in-force notices affecting employees at the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).
Apr.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Selangor’s health department said a company was fined RM20,000(US$5,000) for supplying vape devices designed to resemble toys. Officers raided the firm’s premises near Taman Kosas in Ampang on Dec 19, 2025 after discovering it was importing and distributing toy-shaped vape devices.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Shunhao Shares Reports 2025 Revenue of RMB 1.188 Billion, While Q1 2026 Net Profit Rises 49.94% and New Tobacco Operations Continue
Shunhao Shares Reports 2025 Revenue of RMB 1.188 Billion, While Q1 2026 Net Profit Rises 49.94% and New Tobacco Operations Continue
Shunhao Shares’ 2025 annual report summary and first-quarter 2026 report show that the company recorded 2025 revenue of RMB 1.188 billion, down 21.78% year on year, while net profit attributable to shareholders rose 30.00% to RMB 58.94 million. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue was RMB 291.51 million, down 10.34% year on year, while attributable net profit rose 49.94% to RMB 19.98 million.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Korean Vape Retailers Warn of Possible Store Closures After New Tobacco Rules Take Effect
Korean Vape Retailers Warn of Possible Store Closures After New Tobacco Rules Take Effect
South Korea’s revised Tobacco Business Act will take effect on April 24, bringing synthetic nicotine liquid vapes into the legal definition of tobacco and subjecting both retailers and manufacturers to formal regulation.
Apr.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai