The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a directive on November 15, 2018, stating that electronic cigarettes and certain flavorings will only be sold to adults in stores where there are age restrictions for entering and buying. Online sales will also continue, but more diligent protocol will be in place for age verification.

The use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices has been on a steady increase, and a large part of that increase is kids in middle and high school. There’s also a large adult population using these devices to help them quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Most adults prefer mint flavorings in their device while around 50% of kids prefer flavors like chocolate, bubblegum, fruit, vanilla, and cinnamon, to name a few. With adults preferring tobacco, menthol, and mint flavors, the FDA statement excludes these flavors because they assist adults in transitioning from traditional cigarettes. As a result, these flavors will still be available in stores where there’s no age exclusion.

In advance of the directive, there was an increase in warnings sent and fines incurred by stores and online retailers concerning the sale of these products to minors and the consequences of violations will get more severe over time. Even with all these safeguards in place, it’s still important for parents to be aware of teens using e-cigarettes and vapes to prevent the number from becoming higher.