UK Study: Four-fifths Of E-Cigarette Users in Northern Ireland Are Not Verified By Age

UK Study: Four-fifths of E-Cigarette Users in Northern Ireland Are Not Verified by Age

Four out of five e-cigarette users in Northern Ireland are not required to have their age verified, despite support for an age check policy, compared with 45% of users across the UK.

According to Identityweek, four out of five e-cigarette users in Northern Ireland have never been asked to verify their age, compared to 45% of users in the UK as a whole. Despite this, a survey showed that they support the introduction of an age check policy, with the minimum age to buy e-cigarettes in Northern Ireland or the UK being 18.

Campaigners say e-cigarettes pose as much of a threat to the nation's health as other age-restricted items such as cigarettes and alcohol, but are still easily available to young people. Convenience stores have easier access to age verification tools, compounding the problem.

The Tobacco and e-Cigarette Bill, promoted by Rishi Sunak (Sage Sunak), aims to prevent youth under the age of 15 from legally purchasing tobacco products. Vendors such as Vape Pte LTD (Summary) have begun distributing ITL's MyCheckr scanners to convenience stores to help with age verification.