"Raise the age limit and ensure that products can only be sent to the registered address for online purchases."
This is according to vejpshop owner David Vilja, who believes that the laws need to be tightened to tackle the increasing use of e-cigarettes among young people today.
Disposable cigarettes have become very popular, especially since they have taken their place alongside both cigarettes and snus on the shelves of convenience stores and gas stations. Even in vejpshoppers, shops that primarily sell e-cigarettes, disposable models have exploded in popularity. David Vilja, CEO of Vapify, which operates three vejp shops in Stockholm, says the development has both pros and cons for the industry.
"The market is now huge, which I think is helping the industry as a whole to expand. Disposable models are a very good way for many smokers to start with e-cigarettes in a very simple way. At the same time, it is a double-edged sword. We see more and more minors using the products, which in turn can hurt the industry" says David Vilja.
"Easier to use e-cigs today"
According to CAN's latest report on nicotine use in Sweden, the proportion of people who have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days has increased across the population. From 2% in 2021 to 4% in 2022. 1% of these are daily users. The largest increase can be seen in the 17-29 age group, where 14% used e-cigarettes, compared to only 4% in 2017-2021.
David Vilja says that use among the very young is problematic, and that accessibility plays a major role.
"In the past, it was quite cumbersome for a minor to use e-cigarettes. Not only did you have to buy an e-cigarette, you also had to buy the e-juice and burner separately, learn how to refill it and replace parts from time to time. Nowadays, it is so much easier to get, and use, e-cigarettes."
"Raise the age limit"
He argues that legislation needs to be broadened to deal with the problems that will inevitably arise. Currently, e-cigarettes are prohibited from being advertised online and on social media, the age limit is 18, and municipalities are responsible for supervising physical shops.
"But there is much more we could do. I strongly believe in raising the age limit. 18 years is not a good limit today, because high school students can very easily get an older friend to deal to them. It's too easy a process today" says David Vilja.
Not just age checks
He believes that online sales also need to be better regulated, not least by tightening the rules on how age checks work in practice.
"There are pros and cons to allowing these products to be sold online. Compared to a physical store, it is much more difficult to check whether a person is really old enough to buy the products when the purchase is made online. A good start is to make sure that it is only possible to send the products to the registered address, we already do that in our webshop and I would like to see that everywhere" says David Vilja.
Crimes must have consequences
According to David Vilja, it is also important for the authorities to work better with companies operating in the sector.
"They need to make sure that those who import e-cigarettes and sell them actually behave and follow the laws that are in place. I feel that not everyone does that today. There should be consequences for breaking the rules and for the business," David Vilja told Vejpkollen.
