According to the ESPAD 2024 study, the average rate of e-cigarette use in the past 30 days among 15–16-year-olds across 37 European countries was 21.7%.

The highest rates were recorded in:

- Poland — 35.8%
- Serbia — 34.3%
- Croatia — 32.1%
- Hungary — 31.3%
- Czechia — 31.2%

In Germany, the rate was 27%, followed by the Netherlands at 22.5% and Denmark at 22.4%.

Ukraine ranks 27th out of 37 countries, with a rate of 17.2%, below the ESPAD average of 21.7%.

A similar pattern can be observed for conventional cigarette smoking: 14.1% in Ukraine compared to the ESPAD average of 17.6%.

Does a below-average rate mean that minors' access to e-cigarettes is not a problem in Ukraine?

No. The sale of e-cigarettes to minors is prohibited in Ukraine.

However, effective enforcement of this ban remains a challenge, particularly when it comes to verifying purchasers' ages.

Our association is working to strengthen measures restricting minors' access to nicotine-containing products at two levels: regulatory and business.

At the regulatory level, we advocate introducing administrative liability for adults who purchase e-cigarettes for the purpose of subsequently providing them to minors.

At the business level, VARES is developing practical guidelines for its member companies outlining measures they can implement immediately, without waiting for legislative changes, to restrict minors' access to e-cigarettes.

Source: ESPAD Report 2024 ([https://www.espad.org/espad-report-2024](https://www.espad.org/espad-report-2024)).