Protection of minors Solothurn: e-cigarette ban for minors is being monitored

The canton of Solothurn wants to step up checks on compliance with the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. From October 1, the sales age for tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and products containing nicotine and tobacco will be 18 throughout Switzerland.

The Solothurn State Chancellery announced on Wednesday that points of sale of tobacco and nicotine products must ensure that the regulations are complied with and that information on the sales age is available. In the event of violations of the sales regulations, the business and the salesperson could be fined.

The Federal Council brought the national Tobacco Products Act into force on October 1. This means that, in addition to conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and all products containing nicotine and tobacco, such as herbal smoking products, water pipes, nicotine pouches and CBD products, will only be available throughout Switzerland from the age of 18.

In 2019, the canton of Solothurn had already restricted the sale of tobacco products to under-18s in its health law. However, new nicotine products such as e-cigarettes - also known as vapes, liquids or puff bars - were previously exempt from this ban.