Vape retailers sticking to the rules

• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Central Otago News

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Southern health promotion team conducted a controlled purchase operation (CPO) with 19 retailers in Queenstown, Wanaka, Hawea and Cromwell earlier this month

None sold vaping products to a minor.

Controlled purchase operations are carried out about every eight to 12 weeks and involve a minor entering a shop and asking to be sold a vaping or tobacco product.

They are carried out more regularly when a retailer has been identified as selling vaping or tobacco products to minors.

Smokefree enforcement officer Stephanie Bekhuis-Pay said it was a highlight for her when she told retailers they did not sell to a minor during the CPO.

‘‘I couldn’t be more thrilled with this outcome and hope our community will be reassured that the majority of retailers are not selling to minors,’’ she said.

The National...