Current youth vaping measures fall short as illicit market grows: IKE report
September 10, 2025
Urgent action is needed to protect young people from the UK’s youth vaping trends and the booming illicit vape market, according to new research from IKE Tech LLC , a leading innovator in identity verification (IDV) and tokenisation technology.
While policymakers have so far focused on restricting advertising, packaging, and display, the report reveals that the core issue remains accessibility, with existing age checks being easily bypassed. As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill passes through parliament, the findings highlight an urgent need for the adoption of smarter, tech-driven solutions to protect young people.
Although the UK has made significant progress in reducing cigarette smoking among young adults, there is growing concern about more teens turning to vaping. This problem is fuelled by easy access and social factors, not just product appeal.
The report, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults and 500 UK 15-17-year-olds (as part of a total of 5,000 respondents across the UK and US), found that the majority (61 per cent) of respondents across all demographics identify peer pressure and social influence as the primary reasons why young people start vaping. Many teenagers are also motivated by a desire to fit in or appear older, with 42 per cent of 15-17-year-olds stating this as a key reason for picking up the habit.
Worryingly, 90 per cent of all respondents believe vapes are often given or shared by friends and siblings. Even with existing regulations, 61 per cent of both adults and young people surveyed believe current age verification methods are too easy to bypass. The data highlights a critical enforcement gap, as 79 per cent of all respondents believe underage users buy vapes online, and 74 per cent say they purchase them in stores with minimal or non-existent age checks.
Alongside the rise in youth vaping, an illicit market has surged, posing potentially serious health risks, and undermining legitimate businesses that invest in compliance, safety, and innovation. This illicit trade has seen a 100-fold increase since 2020. When asked why young people turn to illegal vapes, respondents pointed to peer pressure and social factors (84 per cent), cheaper prices (82 per cent), and lack of age checks (80 per cent).
Keeping vapes out of kids’ hands
The report findings outline a new approach to restricting underage access, with digital age verification standing out as a key solution for this challenge. Over a half (53 per cent) of respondents support checks at the point of sale, with 52 per cent supporting verification at the point of use – such as a digital ‘child lock’ with biometric identification. Critically, among 15-17-year-olds, point-of-use technology is seen as the most effective way to prevent underage access (54 per cent). This strong support for innovation is also echoed by 81 per cent of current adult vapers, who admit they would purchase devices featuring this technology if it helped stop youth use.
Looking ahead, there is a sense of hope: almost a half (48 per cent) of all respondents believe underage vaping will decrease by 2030. However, recommendations are clear that stronger penalties for retailers (81 per cent), smarter technology solutions (73 per cent), and tougher government regulations (71 per cent) will be essential to truly curb youth vaping.
“Now more than ever, the world needs responsible, technology-driven solutions that go beyond traditional enforcement,” said John Patterson, president of IKE Tech. “While the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a welcome first step, by moving beyond analogue measures to invest in technological safeguards like blockchain-based, point-of-use age verification, we can make this vision a reality, set new global standards, and protect young people from harm.”
Londis retailer Atul Sodha also believes that point of use technology can not only help eliminate youth access and youth but could also be key in reducing many of the challenges retailers face in-store.
Sodha said: “We need a belt and braces approach to age verification in order to ensure we keep within legal frameworks while helping the Government achieve its smoke-free objectives. A triple-lock effect of manufacturer technology, retailer vigilance, and point of use age verification within vapes would not only help in eliminating youth use, but will also help resolve the challenges we face in anti-social behaviour, youth theft and verbal and physical abuse of staff during point of sale process.”
IKE Tech’s report, ‘The first vape-free youth generation: The critical role of technology to end underage access and illicit sales’, concludes that by fostering true collaboration between industry, regulators, retailers, educators, and public health advocates, the UK can create a safer environment for young people and lead the way in responsible vaping regulation.
