Dutch crack down on smoking and vaping, age limit may rise to 21
March 12, 2025 by dutchnews.nl
Dutch crack down on smoking and vaping, age limit may rise to 21
Junior health minister Vincent Karremans is considering raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes and vapes to 21 in the Netherlands. He aims to combat the serious vape issue among youths by potentially criminalizing flavored vapes, increasing fines for violations, and banning flavored vapes entirely. The government has already prohibited the sale of flavored vapes, but illegal sales persist through various channels. This new strategy is supported by the Trimbos addiction institute, emphasizing the importance of delaying nicotine exposure to avoid addiction. The Dutch health ministry is also pushing for EU regulations on e-cigarettes and tobacco products to protect public health. Unauthorized sales and harmful content in vapes remain significant concerns.
11.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 1.6 million current smokers in Netherlands.
SOURCE: GSTHR
