Britain Proposes Electronic-Cigarette Age Restrictions

Proposal would restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to people 18 and older.

January 28, 2014

LONDON – British health officials announced earlier this week that it would restrict the sale of electronic cigarettes to people 18 and older, Reuters reports.

"We do not yet know the harm that e-cigarettes can cause to adults let alone to children, but we do know they are not risk- free," said England's Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies, adding that they could be “extremely damaging” to young people’s health.

Euromonitor estimated that the global market for e-cigarettes last year was more than $2 billion. People under 18 years of age are already banned from purchasing tobacco cigarettes in Britain. This week’s announcement plans to also make it illegal for adults to buy tobacco cigarettes for consumption by those under 18.

The changes will be incorporated into a bill on its way through parliament and are expected to receive bipartisan support. 

Regulators in Europe and the United States have been debating policy towards electronic cigarettes. The European Union reached an agreement in December to allow e-cigarettes to be sold as consumer products rather than the more heavily regulated medical devices.

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