ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation by the Department of Health, supporting the proposed restriction of 18 years of age for the sale of nicotine inhaling products, such as electronic cigarettes.

The proposed regulations would make it an offence to sell nicotine inhaling products to anyone under the age of 18 and make ‘proxy purchasing’ – adults buying the product for an individual under age – of e-cigarettes illegal.

ACS supports the introduction of these measures as it will provide retailers with the clarity to know who they can and cannot sell the products to, as there currently isn’t any legislation on the sale of e-cigarettes.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “E-cigarettes are a growing product category in convenience stores, with our latest Voice of Local Shops Survey showing that 65% of our members currently sell them. Many of our members already implement a voluntary age restriction for e-cigarettes, but this proposed age restriction will provide many responsible retailers with the additional support of the law behind them.”

ACS’ full submission to the Department of Health’s consultation on ‘Nicotine Inhaling Products: Introducing a Minimum Age of Sale’ can be viewed here: http://www.acs.org.uk/download/age-of-sale-for-nicotine-inhaling-products/