Is it allowed for non-smokers to buy e-cigarettes?

young teen with shades in black background smoking an e-cigarette

Approximately 2.8 million adults in Britain currently use e-cigarettes, but an undercover investigation has highlighted that this figure is likely to include more than just ex-smokers.

Almost nine in 10 of Britain’s vape shops are willing to sell e-cigarettes to non-smokers, and although this is not against the law, it is against the voluntary code of conduct, which states that vape shops should not knowingly sell vape products to anyone who does not or has not smoked before.

Investigating 100 of an estimated 1,700 vape shops in the UK, 87% were found to be either knowingly or unwittingly prepared to sell e-cigarettes to people who have never smoked or vaped.

Approximately 50% of vape stores did not ask customers if they had smoked before, and around 75% of those that did still encouraged non-smokers to start vaping.

Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) chief executive Shirley Cramer said e-cigarettes must be seen as “evidence-based quitting aids – rather than lifestyle products” and should be aimed at smokers.

“We applaud the IBVTA (Independent British Vape Trade Association) code of conduct, which is in line with this principle,” she added.

“However, as our investigation shows, the majority of vape shops in the UK are not adhering to these important standards. We are keen to support the sector to strengthen their codes of best practice, and for individual retailers to sign up and ultimately adhere to them.”

Richard Hyslop, chief executive of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, said: “Vape products should not be marketed to non-smokers or those under the age of 18.

Do you believe that retailers should be responsible for confirming they only sell vaping products to actual smokers? Should the practice of selling vaping products to non-smokers be considered illegal? Tell us what you think.  Comment below or tweet us @ILoveEcigs

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