Two-thirds of Pembrokeshire retailers which stock e-cigarettes have signed up to a voluntary scheme prohibiting their sale to under-18s.

The E-cigarette Responsible Retailer scheme was launched by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection trading standards team in September.

The initiative aims to prevent young people developing nicotine addiction or smoking behaviours.

Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, welcomed the number of retailers signing up to the scheme.

“We are especially pleased in the light of new national research published this week, which says three times as many children have tried e-cigarettes compared to tobacco,” he said.

“The study found that six per cent of 10 and 11 year olds had tried e-cigarettes, compared to two per cent who had smoked tobacco.

“It also said children who tried e-cigarettes were seven times more likely to say they might start smoking within two years.

“This study has reinforced our concerns in Pembrokeshire that using e-cigarettes can become a gateway to smoking tobacco cigarettes.”

Out of the one-third of retailers not signed up to the responsible retailer scheme in Pembrokeshire, the majority are national retailers who already have a similar arrangement in place.

They are followed by a smaller number of premises which are unsure or pending signing up. Only three premises have declined outright.

“At present there is no legal restriction on the sale of e-cigarettes to children and young people in Wales or the rest of the UK,” said Nigel Watts, Trading Standards, Animal Health and Welfare Manager.

“We hope that, through this initiative, we will help to prevent young people from accessing e-cigarettes and becoming used to the idea of smoking.

“The feedback from local retailers has, in the vast majority of cases, been very supportive of the initiative.”