UKVIA Updates Underage Sales Guide for Retailers

Mar.01.2023
UKVIA Updates Underage Sales Guide for Retailers
UKVIA updates guidelines to prevent underage sales of e-cigarettes for UK retailers. Free 20-page guide available on their website.

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has released an updated version of its "Preventing Sales to Underage Persons Guide" for retailers. The 20-page guide was jointly developed by UKVIA's main authoritative partner, the Trading Standards organizations of Buckinghamshire and Surrey. It is available for free on the UKVIA website.


The General Secretary of UK Vaping Industry Association, John Dunne, stated that the entire membership of UKVIA is united in its commitment to preventing the sale of e-cigarette products to minors. He also emphasized that the implementation of strict age verification processes is crucial in ensuring the healthy development of the e-cigarette industry.


The guide provides a detailed explanation of how to implement the "Challenge 25" policy and why it is necessary to require ID from anyone who looks under 25 years old. The UKVIA has made this guide available to all retailers free of charge to assist them in complying with UK law and preventing the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.


Deng En stated that policymakers, politicians, and consumers must believe that the e-cigarette industry is a responsible field. If companies cannot implement and adhere to strict age verification processes, it will undermine this belief.


References:


UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has revised its ‘Preventing Underage Sales Guide’ in order to help UK retailers in preventing the sale of vaping products to minors. The guide lays out the necessary procedures for retailers to comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 as well as identifying the correct age verification methods to limit instances of underage sales. 【2】The update comes as the UK's Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) came up with guidelines that ban online promotions of e-cigarette products specifically designed for children. This can be viewed as a further step towards restricting the sale of e-cigarettes among minors. 【3】UKVIA explained that the revisions are to ensure that the guide is up to date with changing regulatory policies. Furthermore, the association hopes to build upon the early success of the guide since its initial publication in 2017.



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.

Reuters Tracks Big Tobacco’s Shift Beyond Cigarettes as Nicotine Pouches Vie for the Next Growth Curve
Reuters Tracks Big Tobacco’s Shift Beyond Cigarettes as Nicotine Pouches Vie for the Next Growth Curve
As cigarette markets face long-term pressure, major tobacco companies are increasingly turning to nicotine pouches in search of growth beyond combustible tobacco. Reuters has examined whether nicotine pouches can become the next strategic growth platform for companies including Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco. PMI strengthened its position through the acquisition of Swedish Match and its ZYN brand, while BAT and JTI continue expanding their own nicotine pouch portfolios. The category has gained attention because of its smoke-free, device-free format, but regulation, youth-use concerns and market scale will determine whether it can become a long-term growth engine.
Regulations
Aug.18 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Product | SnowPlus Launches Nicotine-Free DASH in South Korea, Localising an Established Disposable Platform
Product | SnowPlus Launches Nicotine-Free DASH in South Korea, Localising an Established Disposable Platform
SnowPlus has introduced a nicotine-free version of DASH in South Korea, adapting an existing overseas disposable platform for the local market. The Korean version retains the series’ flat duckbill-style mouthpiece, ceramic heating architecture and disposable form factor while reducing nicotine content to 0%. By comparison, the overseas DASH 4000 platform typically features 7.5ml of prefilled e-liquid, up to 4,000 puffs and a 530mAh rechargeable battery, with nicotine-containing variants available in some markets. The product update centers on formulation localisation rather than a new hardware generation.
Aug.31
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
According to CBS Los Angeles on August 27, 2026, California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 762, which would phase out disposable, battery-embedded nicotine vapes in the state. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing and importation of the covered products would be prohibited beginning January 1, 2027, followed by a sales ban on January 1, 2028. Driven primarily by concerns over electronic waste, lithium-battery fires and environmental pollution, the legislation would further shift California’s legal vape market toward rechargeable, refillable or replaceable-pod devices.
Aug.28
JTI Proposes 25-Cent Irish Cigarette Tax Increase, Says It Could Raise €45 Million
JTI Proposes 25-Cent Irish Cigarette Tax Increase, Says It Could Raise €45 Million
Japan Tobacco International's Irish business has proposed a €0.25 tax increase on a pack of 20 cigarettes in its pre-Budget 2027 submission, below the €0.50-or-more increases typically imposed in recent Irish budgets. JTI says the proposal could generate around €45 million in additional Exchequer revenue while limiting further movement toward illicit and non-Irish-tax-paid tobacco. Revenue's existing estimate for a comparable €0.25 increase, including pro-rata rises on other tobacco products, is about €18 million for a full year.
JTI
Sep.18 by 2Firsts Perspectives
GSTHR Estimates 200 Million People Use Non-Combustible Nicotine Products as 28 Countries Show Rising Use Alongside Falling Smoking Rates
GSTHR Estimates 200 Million People Use Non-Combustible Nicotine Products as 28 Countries Show Rising Use Alongside Falling Smoking Rates
The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, a project operated by Knowledge·Action·Change, estimates that about 200 million people worldwide use non-combustible nicotine products including vapes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and snus. Its 2026 report says use of these products rose alongside declining smoking rates in 28 countries it analyzed. The data do not establish that all 200 million users have quit smoking, nor do they prove a direct causal relationship. GSTHR also says regulatory restrictions on the products continue to expand in many markets.
Sep.10
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
The Bombay High Court has ruled that airport duty-free shops are not exempt from India's domestic regulatory laws merely because they operate beyond the customs barrier, leaving in place a sales halt covering ZYN and FOX nicotine pouches at Mumbai's international airport. The court, however, did not determine that the products necessarily qualify as "drugs" under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The retailers have four weeks to submit product information to the appropriate authorities, including CDSCO, which must complete its review within 30 days of receiving the submissions.
Sep.24