Age-of-sale restrictions are intended to prevent youth access to nicotine products while allowing adults to choose lower-risk alternatives where these products are legally available.
In most countries, including the majority of European jurisdictions, the minimum legal age for purchasing nicotine vaping products is 18 years. In the United States, the federal minimum age is 21, while other countries set the minimum age at 16, 19, 20 or 21. Some jurisdictions also require age verification for online sales or prohibit the sale of vaping products through vending machines. In Japan and South Korea, for example, the minimum legal age for purchasing both cigarettes and safer nicotine products is 20 and 19, respectively.
66 countries currently have minimum-age laws restricting the sale of nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) to young people.
The following countries have age restrictions: