A new survey has revealed that 45% of vapers have never been asked for age verification, and that the majority of vapers say retailers need to enforce a stricter policy to deter youth vaping.
Since 2023, there has been an increase in children who have tried vaping, growing 50% year-on-year. This figure proves it’s time for vaping retailers to tighten age verification to prevent underage access and enforce responsible retailing.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help with this, it is expected, with retailers who fail being fined up to £2,500 if found to have sold vapes to minors, yet still more needs to be done to tackle the issue, supplier Vape Superstore says. Its latest survey of 1,000 vape users has shown how often they have been asked about age verification and which retailers are the biggest culprits.
45% of respondents said they had never been asked their age, and females are asked more regularly than males. In Northern Ireland, 80% of vapers says they haven’t been asked, while in the north east of England the figure is 66%. In terms of cities, Belfast scored highest, with Norwich and Plymouth coming second and third.
But most worryingly, 89% believe that vaping retailers need to enforce a stricter policy to deter children from vaping. According to the survey, Newcastle and Southampton topped the league of cities where verification is asked for.
Dave Philips, from Vape Superstore, said of the results: “As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill rolls out, it’s vital retailers take more responsibility to ensure vaping products do not end up in the hands of children.
“Our survey shows that, on the whole, e-cigarette users support stricter age verification, which suggests everyone believes that safeguarding children during this process is a top priority. E-cigarettes are meant to help aid adult smokers quit, not encourage children to start nicotine replacement therapy.”
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