Black market for e-cigarette liquids is real problem among schoolchildren - minister

RIGA - The black market for e-cigarette liquids is a real problem among school-age youth, Minister of Justice Edvards Smiltens (United List) told LETA today, following a meeting of the Crime Prevention Council.

The politician noted that these liquids are still being distributed through various Telegram channels and that the black, or illegal, market is gaining momentum. "The tragedy is that school-age children are involved in all of this," Smiltens said.

Currently, several ministries have been tasked with both collecting more comprehensive data related to this problem within two months and devising solutions to mitigate it.

Smiltens noted that this is precisely how school-age youth "get drawn into" organized crime - initially through the distribution of such prohibited liquids, they are likely distributed among classmates and acquaintances, but later this may also involve the distribution and sale of various narcotic substances.

At today’s session, the State Revenue Service reported that excise tax revenues in the relevant sector have decreased significantly since the ban took effect. However, Smiltens believes that this is not because a large number of residents have suddenly stopped smoking, but rather because the illegal market is growing.

At the same time, he noted that there is no comprehensive data on the true extent of the problem, and that such data need to be obtained.

Smiltens did not directly answer whether, in his opinion, it can be concluded that the ban on e-cigarette liquids has not yielded the expected results; he merely acknowledged that a problem exists in this regard. In his view, this issue should also be addressed at the European level, since it is difficult to ensure compliance with regulations in Latvia, which differ from those in other countries, given the open market and open borders.

As reported, on January 1, 2025, a ban will take effect on the sale in the Latvian market of e-cigarette liquids and tobacco substitute products containing flavorings; and that all types of tobacco products may be purchased by individuals aged 20 and older.