Young people are drawn to vapes because of their taste and stylish looks, but these devices are not without risk. Nicotine-containing vapes have the potential to be addictive, and young individuals who do not smoke but vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes.
To prevent underage consumption, several nations have established a minimum legal sales age. Similar to tobacco products, vapes are a notifiable product in New Zealand and cannot be sold to anybody under the age of 18. Australia has gone one step further and mandates a prescription in order to obtain vapes that contain nicotine.
Nonetheless, the number of minors vaping has increased in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, where 20% of those between the ages of 15 and 17 reported vaping in the previous month, according to the most recent health study. Approximately 28% of Māori youth vaped on a regular basis, indicating disparities akin to those noted in tobacco use.
We were curious about how minors got their hands on vape pens. We examined research from around the world and discovered that the most popular access method was “social sourcing,” or sharing among friends. Additionally, minors who use vapes can purchase from commercial vendors, and some even steal the devices.
Sharing seems to be widespread and self-serving.
In order to learn more about how New Zealand teenagers (ages 16 to 17) obtained vaping items, we also spoke with thirty of them in interviews. This study describes the many ways in which these teenagers get their hands on vapes that contain nicotine and highlights significant policy gaps.
Every participant stated that they had shared vapes with friends, relatives, coworkers, or strangers they had met in public. Participants were able to form stronger bonds with their peers and make new social connections through sharing.
Some people were able to avoid having their own device (or buying infrequently, on exceptional occasions) by sharing others’ vapes. They felt in charge of their use and uncommitted to vaping.
Purchasing vapes through “proxies”
The majority of participants asked their older friends or siblings who were above 18 to buy vapes on their behalf. Once a participant found a reliable customer, they frequently relied on them to supply a larger group of younger peers.
Proxies sometimes charged a fee, but usually provided people they knew for free.
A smaller percentage of respondents solicited “randoms”—that is, strangers—that they met on social media to purchase vapes for them. As an alternative, others went up to strangers they encountered outside of stores and asked if they would buy them anything.
Young people underage buy vapes for themselves.
Almost all of the interviewees were aware of stores that catered to minors; numerous individuals had purchased e-cigarettes from a “dodgy dairy” that failed to request identification. Many had friends who utilised fictitious IDs.
According to our research, access channels fall somewhere along a spectrum between self-buying, “proxy” purchasing, and spontaneous sharing.
The government’s intention to impose increasing fines on retailers is supported by reports that minors purchase vapes straight from small businesses. However, it also implies that store oversight and enforcement need to be strengthened.
Disrupting social supply lines, such as sharing and proxy buying, is also essential. We think the following upstream policy changes are necessary to lessen the accessibility and allure of vaping products:
Restricting goods sales to specialty stores with age restrictions
limiting the number of vape retailers to reduce density
Prohibiting all general and specialised vape businesses, both present and future, from operating within 500 yards of educational institutions and public parks
keeping an eye on the effects of the government’s planned ban on the sale of disposable vapes to make sure that new, inexpensive refilling devices don’t undercut this effort.
If any of the issues discussed in this article are causing problems for you, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will try to assist you in any way possible.