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.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Vape Industry Group Loses Alabama Court Fight as State Tightens Rules on Imported Products
Vape Industry Group Loses Alabama Court Fight as State Tightens Rules on Imported Products
The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed a lower court’s refusal to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the state’s 2025 electronic nicotine delivery systems law, allowing rules requiring covered products to be U.S.-made or FDA-authorized to remain in effect.
Jul.10
Former FDA Scientist Questions ZYN Review Over Pouch Material and Microplastic Risk
Former FDA Scientist Questions ZYN Review Over Pouch Material and Microplastic Risk
A former FDA toxicologist has questioned whether the agency fully assessed the material used in ZYN nicotine pouches before authorizing them for sale, raising concerns over possible microplastic exposure, according to STAT and The Examination.
Jul.16
Product | IVG Pro 15K Enters European Retail Channels, Expanding High-Capacity Pod System Segment
Product | IVG Pro 15K Enters European Retail Channels, Expanding High-Capacity Pod System Segment
UK vape brand IVG has introduced the IVG Pro 15K, a high-capacity pod system combining a 2ml prefilled pod with a 10ml refill container to deliver up to 15,000 puffs. Unlike conventional high-puff disposable vapes, the IVG Pro 15K adopts a reusable device structure, reflecting a broader shift in the European vape market toward longer-use-cycle products and reusable hardware ecosystems.
Jul.14
EU ‘TPD3’ Enters Next Phase on Aug. 14 as Fragmented Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules Push the Single Market Toward Regulatory Overhaul
EU ‘TPD3’ Enters Next Phase on Aug. 14 as Fragmented Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules Push the Single Market Toward Regulatory Overhaul
A 12-week European Commission consultation on revising the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive is due to close on Aug. 14, 2026. The Commission has identified e-cigarette flavours, disposable vapes, tobacco heating devices, nicotine pouches, nicotine-free e-cigarettes, packaging and digital marketing among areas for possible new EU rules. National regulations already vary significantly across the bloc, a fragmentation the Commission says creates internal-market barriers and distorts competition. No formal revised TPD/TAD legislative text has yet been published, with the Commission currently indicating December 2026 for the legislative initiative.
Aug.14
Shopify Requires Merchants to Remove All Vape Products by July 8, Reshaping Online Sales Channels
Shopify Requires Merchants to Remove All Vape Products by July 8, Reshaping Online Sales Channels
Shopify has instructed merchants using its web-hosting services to remove vape products from their online stores by July 8, 2026. The policy expands beyond illegal products and applies to all electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), marking a broader shift in online platform oversight of nicotine sales.
Innovation
Jul.14 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
The UK High Court has ordered Chinese vape manufacturer Shenzhen SKE Technology to provide £569,039 ($776,000) in security for costs in its design infringement proceedings against Vapepen London and other defendants over its Crystal Bar vape product. The court did not accept the defendants’ main argument that recovering costs from a China-based company would face significant enforcement obstacles, but found that SKE had not sufficiently disclosed its own financial position. The order is procedural and does not determine the underlying infringement claims.
News
Aug.21