Latvia raises tobacco sales age to 20, bans vaping flavors

Since 1 January 2025, Latvia has implemented stricter regulations aimed at reducing nicotine consumption, especially among young people. The legal age for the purchase and sale of tobacco and other nicotine products, as well as herbal smoking articles, vaping devices and nicotine pouches, has been raised from 18 to 20 years.

In addition to the age restriction, Latvia has banned all flavours for cartridge-based vaping products (pods) and disposable e-cigarettes (puffs), except for tobacco flavour, and will reduce nicotine levels in nicotine pouches.[1].

Reduce the initiation of these products by young people

One of the key measures of the new regulations is the increase in the legal age at which a person can be sold tobacco and nicotine products. Previously set at 18, this threshold has been increased to 20. In addition, a minimum age for tobacco consumption or the use of vaping devices, or nicotine pouches, as well as herbal smoking materials, is also 20. This change is part of Latvia’s strategy to reduce early initiation of smoking and any nicotine-containing product. Raising the legal age of sale of tobacco helps reduce smoking initiation among young people by limiting their access to products. It also helps reduce initiation through peer influence, which often results in adolescents sharing tobacco. Retailers who sell these products to people under the age of 20 are liable to fines ranging from 280 to 700 euros, while legal entities can be fined between 700 and 7,100 euros. People under the age of 20 who use these products can receive a warning or a fine of up to 15 euros.

Latvia's approach reflects a growing trend among EU Member States to adopt stronger measures to sustainably reduce smoking and the use of new nicotine products among young people. In Europe, Ireland is also set to adopt legislation that will increase the minimum age of sale from 18 to 21.

Circumventions already in force

While public health advocates have welcomed the measures, tobacco companies and retailers have responded by trying to find loopholes in the regulations, according to an investigation by Latvian public broadcaster Latvijas Televizija, reported by Euronews.[2]. Some companies have thus proposed to sell separate bottles of nicotine and flavourings, allowing consumers to mix them independently. This strategy, a priori legal under the texts stricto sensu, however goes against the intention of the legislator and raises questions about the difficulties of application. Public health experts call on the Latvian government to closely monitor these developments and to introduce additional measures to fill potential gaps. This type of circumvention nevertheless underlines that partial legislation (in the case of the Latvian law, bottled e-liquids do not fall within the scope of the ban), is in fact little or even ineffective.

Experts say Latvia could serve as a model for similar regulations in the EU. However, they caution that the effectiveness of such measures will depend on rigorous enforcement and the government's ability to adapt to industry strategies to circumvent the rules.

AE

[1] Latvijā aizliedz tabakas izstrādājumus ar aromatizētājiem; smēķēt drīkstēs no 20 gadiem, Delfi 25, published on January 1, 2025, consulted on January 6, 2025

[2] Roselyn Min, Tobacco sellers in Latvia scramble to find loopholes to circumvent new ban on products and vapes, Euronews, published on December 31, 2024, consulted on January 6, 2025