Smart vaping devices with built-in age verification technology may soon hit the market to combat underage usage. The recently enacted Tobacco and Vapes Act empowers the Government to require manufacturers to implement age verification measures.
Members of Parliament are urging the government to leverage this legislation to compel vaping companies to introduce digital child locks on their products. Concerns have been raised about the potential “gamification” of e-cigarettes, where devices could incorporate games or smart functionalities that incentivize usage.
Technological solutions like age verification features and “geofencing,” which restricts e-cigarette operation in sensitive areas like schools and playgrounds, are already viable options. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Responsible Vaping is advocating for regulatory oversight of the technology and software within vaping devices, as well as their distribution channels.
Euan Stainbank, chair of the APPG, emphasized the importance of preventing youth access to vapes while acknowledging the role of vaping in adult smoking cessation. He called on the government to not only address risks but also enhance protections from sales to actual usage.
MPs are pushing for the development of smart vape technologies such as Bluetooth-enabled age locks, app-based verification systems, and intelligent restrictions that validate a user’s age before device activation. This initiative follows revelations that Health Streeting plans to crack down on underage vaping using the new legislation, targeting rogue retailers with fines and bolstering enforcement capabilities.
Former Health Secretary Lord Andrew Lansley highlighted the need for technology that ensures only verified adults can use vaping devices, citing statistics on underage access through retail and proxy purchases. The government intends to enforce stricter regulations on e-cigarette advertising and promotion nationwide, including bans on advertisements, billboards, and sponsorships by vaping brands.
Additionally, the government is considering measures like plain packaging and concealed display for vapes, aligning them with existing regulations for tobacco products. Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, condemned marketing vapes to children and emphasized the Act’s provisions to curb such practices.
