From October 29, it is illegal in England and Wales to sell vaping products to anyone under 18, whether they contain nicotine or not, and breaching the rule can result in a fine of up to £200 on the spot.
The new measures also make it an offence for an adult to purchase nicotine or vape items for under-18s. This covers vapes, e-liquids, replacement pods, coils, nicotine pouches, strips, pearls and synthetic nicotine products.
Parents who pick up nicotine products for their children will face the same penalties. The law also bans giving away vaping or nicotine items for free as part of a promotion or selling them at a substantial discount to encourage sales.
Vending machines that dispense tobacco, herbal smoking products and vapes are now prohibited, extending the 2011 ban on cigarette vending machines. Retailers must be satisfied that a buyer is 18 or older before completing a sale, or they risk formal action.
Anyone found selling tobacco, cigarette papers, vaping or nicotine products to a person under 18 could be fined £200 on the spot, reduced to £100 if paid promptly.
The restrictions join the Tobacco and Vapes Act introduced six months ago, which aims to create a "smoke-free generation". Public health guidance still states vaping is less harmful than smoking, but children and non-smoking adults should not vape.
Further rules will start early next year, including a ban on selling tobacco, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and tighter advertising limits on packaging, flavours and displays.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Witty said: "Addicting children to nicotine or encouraging them to vape could lead to the risk of serious health harms - it is completely unacceptable.
"These measures will help protect children from marketing of nicotine products and attempts to encourage them to vape."
