Retailers are being reminded that they are legally obligated to check the age of young people seeking to buy tobacco or vaping products.

During a controlled purchase operation in April Health New Zealand Smokefree Enforcement Officers visited 49 retailer outlets with trained volunteers aged between 14 and 17 years old. The operation resulted in 11 sales.

A controlled purchase operation is a compliance measure that ensures that tobacco and vape retailers are actively checking their customers are 18 years of age or over. Tobacco and vape retailers caught selling tobacco or vape products to young people under 18 years of age may receive an infringement fine of $2000. Repeat offenders may be prosecuted and fined up to $100,000 if convicted by the Court.

“If young people don’t have ID, they must not be able to purchase cigarettes or vape products”, says Jasmine Berryman, Kaitātaki Group Manager, Health Protection - Northern. “We urge retailers to remain vigilant when it comes to checking ID for sales to young people.”

We advise retailers to continue checking ID for all tobacco and vape product sales to anyone who looks younger than 25 years of age, because controlled purchase operations are ongoing.

In addition, we remind Specialist Vape Retailers (SVR) that under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, they must take all practicable steps to prevent those under 18s from even entering their approved vaping premise.

Selling tobacco or vape products to under 18s is illegal. Help protect your community. Report underage sales at info.health.nz/TellUs