For the first time, all the 49 vape retailers in Taranaki do not sell vape products to buyers below 18 years of age. This follows a recent government test where underage volunteers were asked to pose as potential vape product buyers from the shops. All the shops achieved a perfect score for doing the necessary due diligence and not selling to underage buyers.
A recent controlled purchase test showed that all local retailers that were selling vaping products complied with the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990. This is the first time that 100% of local retail stores did not fail the test.
The National Health Service has been working hard to contain youth vaping in the country. Already reports show that many youths are taking up vaping early in their lives. This is a dangerous trend as vaping or using other nicotine products can be addictive. In addition, studies have shown that vaping regularly can still cause the same chronic illness such as cardiovascular diseases. While the long-term effect of vaping is yet to be known, preliminary studies show that youth vaping is not as safe as many young people will want to believe.
According to Carly Stevenson, a smoke-free enforcement officer with the National Public Health Service, all the 49 Taranaki retailers did not sell even a single vaping product to the volunteer underage buyers. This time the organization used 15- to 17-year-old volunteers. The volunteers were to try and buy vaping products from the shops they were sent to.
Stevenson reports that for the first time all the shops visited understood the law and followed the right procedure to detect underage buyers and send them away. This shows that all the businesses in Taranaki selling tobacco and vaping products now understand their obligations and the current laws relating to the sale of these products. Stevenson further added that while the retailers passed the test this time, it is important that they all understand the provisions of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act, train their staff on its content and make sure that it is followed at all times.
The law in the country prohibits the selling of cigarettes and vaping products to individuals below 18 years. Stevenson believes that retailers are doing a great job of detecting underage buyers and making sure that they don’t sell to them.
In July this year, a similar controlled purchase testing exercise was carried out. Of the 16 stores selected one was found to have violated the act by selling vaping products to 14 year old. The new results are thus a marked improvement over the past six months.
According to Stevenson, retailers who will be caught vape selling to underage users will be referred to the Ministry of Health for legal redress. This may include prosecution and a fine of $500. For this reason, the Public Health Service will keep monitoring retailers to ensure that they all comply with the act. This is the only way to stop underage residents from trying vaping products and becoming addicts.
