ACS has welcomed a consultation from the Department of Health on introducing age restrictions for the purchase of electronic cigarettes.

The proposed regulations would:

• Make it an offence to sell nicotine inhaling products (such as e-cigarettes) and related products to anyone under the age of 18 years;

• Extend the tobacco ‘proxy purchasing’ offence in the Act to also cover e-cigarettes, so it would also be an offence for an adult to buy a nicotine inhaling products on behalf of a person under 18 years;

• Exempt the sale of any nicotine inhaling product that is licensed as a medicine, where it has been prescribed to the child or where the medicine is indicated for use by children.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “E-cigarettes are a growing product category in convenience stores, providing a viable alternative to smoking for thousands of people.

“The vast majority of our members already have a voluntary age restriction on these products in place, but this consultation will provide important clarity for all responsible retailers who sell these products and ensure that they have the support of legislation.”

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