Gansu Issues a Fine for Selling E-Cigarettes to Minors

On July 7, the Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau issued a fine for selling e-cigarettes to minors. On the afternoon of July 2 at 7:30 PM, the Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, based on information received, collaborated with the District Market Supervision Administration to uncover a case of illegal e-cigarette sales to minors at a night market stall located at 108 Dunhuang Road in Qilihe District. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors," the business was fined 500 yuan and had illegal gains of 5 yuan confiscated.

Wang Peng, Deputy Director of the Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, explained that some middle and primary school students and minors are using e-cigarettes out of curiosity or to pursue trends, which poses serious risks to their physical and mental health due to their still-developing bodies.

It was noted that the newly revised "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors," effective June 1, includes provisions to protect minors from tobacco harm, safeguarding their health and legal rights. Following the directives from the National Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation, as well as arrangements from provincial and municipal tobacco monopoly bureaus and market supervision administrations, the Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, in collaboration with the District People's Procuratorate's Minor Work Department and the District Market Supervision Administration, actively implemented regulatory responsibilities. They conducted investigations, registrations, and established files for e-cigarette vendors in the district, and launched a campaign themed "Keeping Youth Away from Traditional Tobacco Products and E-Cigarettes—Protecting a Smoke-Free Youth and Caring for the Future of Our Country." The Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau has issued the first fine in the province for selling e-cigarettes to minors, marking a significant step in protecting a "Smoke-Free Youth" in the province.

The Qilihe District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau will use the newly revised "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors" as an opportunity to strengthen publicity efforts, enhance supervision and inspection, and strictly fulfill their responsibilities to safeguard the healthy growth of minors. They also call on all sectors of society to actively supervise and report illegal sales of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to minors, working together to protect the healthy development of minors.