A Public Health England (PHE) study has revealed that some retailers, including independent community pharmacies, are selling e-cigarettes to young people aged under 18. 

While there is currently no legal age restriction on the sale of electronic cigarettes, the majority of these products carry a voluntary age warning advising that they should not be sold to under-18s. In addition, it is likely that a ban will soon be introduced on the sale of e-cigarettes to youngsters under the Children and Families Act 2014.

PHE’s Youth Access to E-cigarettes study examined 574 attempts by young people to purchase e-cigs, of which 227 were successful. The highest proportion of purchases to visits made was from market stalls (80 per cent) followed by independent pharmacies (74 per cent). 

Professor Kevin Fenton, national director of health and well being, PHE, said that selling e-cigs to young people was “unacceptable” and added that “the Government and regulatory authorities need to work closely with retailers in advance of any regulations to ensure that retailers are aware of their legal responsibilities.”