Sale of Electronic Cigarettes to be banned to under 18’s

The UK Government has announced that under 18's will not be able to purchase electronic cigarettes, when legislation is introduced later this week. They will also announce that it will also be illegal for adults to purchase cigarettes for children. The law, which will be introduced next week an anamendment to teh Children and Families Bill, will also make it illegal for adults to buy cigarettes on behalf of someone under 18.

Electronic Cigarettes are a healthier alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, and nearly 1.3million people use them in the UK alone.

A law banning the “proxy purchasing” of tobacco for children is expected to take effect in the autumn. Breaking the law would result in a £50 fixed penalty notice or a fine of up to £2,500.

Some 95 per cent of smokers aged 11 to 15 get someone else to buy cigarettes for them at least once a year, according to the latest statistics. And 41 per cent of the 15-year-olds usually buy them from an acquaintance.

But more than 1,000 people end up in hospital every day as a result of smoking, and experts have warned that the growth in e-cigarettes could reverse some of the good work that has been done in tackling the habit.

Ministers hopes the new legislation will come into force by the autumn.