Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026

Written Question · S6W-17340 · Session 6

What action it is taking to prevent the (a) promotion and (b) supply of vaping devices to young people.

Answered Asked by Oliver Mundell Con Lodged 18 Apr 2023

The question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the (a) promotion and (b) supply of vaping devices to young people.

The answer

Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 Apr 2023 · 10 days after it was lodged, on time

We are greatly concerned by reports of children and under-age young people obtaining nicotine vaping products (NVPs). NVPs are an age restricted product and should not be sold to anyone under the age of 18. Laws are also in place which ban the purchase of vaping products for under-18s (proxy purchase), and stores need to have an age verification policy for the sale of tobacco and NVPs.
In October 2022, we wrote to all registered retailers of these products to remind them of their duty of sale and we regularly meet with Trading Standards on enforcement activity.
There are already regulations in place which restrict the marketing and promotion of vaping products to under 18s. Our recent consultation proposed additional restrictions and we are considering next steps. Any action we seek to take will build on the regulations already in place.
We will also publish our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan this year, which will include actions to reduce vaping among young people. We are reviewing vaping education for young people in schools and have also funded ASH Scotland to work with a range of youth organisations on the risks associated with vaping.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-17340 by reference.