New technology launched to address youth vaping

IKE Tech - an age and biometric verification platform - is calling on the government to pave the way for tech solutions that can effectively address the issue of youth vaping access.

It comes as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to tackle the rise in the number of young people vaping. However, IKE Tech argues that the current provision of the Bill still allows vaping products to get into the hands of young people.

To tackle this concern, IKE Tech has introduced a new technology that enables every vape on sale in the UK market to include secure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, which acts as a ‘child lock’ to prevent under-18s from using vaping devices.

Essentially, only vape users who can continuously verify their age as being over 18 will be permitted to activate and use the devices.

The IKE tech works through a small, low-cost chip integrated into a vape device controlled via the IKE mobile app, working in partnership with global identity verification partners to authenticate users.

To unlock the vape, the consumer will need to download the app (available on iOS and Android) and scan a valid UK ID. Through facial recognition, they will be prompted to take a picture of their face to ensure it matches the ID. If validated, the app will be activated, enabling the vape to be unlocked.

The entire verification process can take up to 60 seconds.

When the vaping device regularly locks - to prevent youth access - the user will only need to scan their face to unlock the device. After the app is verified, users can add as many devices as they wish, all of which can be unlocked with a quick facial scan.

The tech solution works with any brand of vape and does not impact device performance for adult users, said the company.

John Patterson senior vice president at IKE Tech said eliminating youth usage must combine measures at both point-of-purchase and point-of-use: “Many retailers already do a great job at implementing in-store age verification policies such as Challenge 25, however, the new technology provides a secure ’double age-gate’ to also prevent access at the point of use”.

The technology has been designed to help reassure retailers that if genuine age-verification errors are made at point of purchase - or proxy purchasing takes place - any underage users will not be able to access the product as it would be inoperable until the user’s identity and age is verified and confirmed on a continuous basis.

Continuous age verification ensures that if a vape is accessed by a young person—such as when a child takes a parent’s vape—it may prevent them from using it, as age verification may be required for it to work.

“By embracing this new technology, responsible manufacturers would be showing their support for retail partners in helping to safeguard the category and preserve the harm reduction benefits of vaping for adult smokers. The industry is ripe for technological disruption to cut short this problem, and continuous age-verification at the point of use can be that solution,” Patterson added.

Moreover, IKE is also urging the government to mandate the use of similar “open” technology to ensure that young people cannot use vapes without verifying that they are of legal age.