Valora : to introduce minimum age of 18 years on tobacco sales throughout Switzerland

Valora is setting a benchmark for the protection of minors. From January 1, 2019, it will only sell tobacco products throughout Switzerland to people who are at least 18 years of age. Valora is thus voluntarily raising the minimum age in the cantons in which it has been selling tobacco to 16-year-olds. It is also keeping in place its self-imposed national minimum age of 18 for the sale of e-cigarettes.

The introduction of the minimum age of 18 years for the sale of tobacco products on 1 January 2019 affects all cantons in Switzerland and covers all tobacco products sold by Valora in its over 1,000 k kiosk, Press & Books and avec store points of sale. The age for the sale of tobacco in Switzerland is regulated at cantonal level. The minimum age varies accordingly. Some cantons already have a minimum age of 18. In others it is 16. Some cantons have not set any age restrictions at all, although Valora has only ever sold tobacco products to people aged 16 or over.

'Raising the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products throughout Switzerland to 18 years is the logical next step for us, having already imposed this age limit on our sales of e-cigarettes,' says Roger Vogt, CEO Retail Switzerland at Valora. 'In doing so, we are further demonstrating our commitment to protecting minors.'

Sales of e-cigarettes also restricted to adults

Valora has already made a voluntary commitment to sell all of its e-cigarette products only to adults. This was underlined in autumn 2018 when it signed the code governing the marketing of electronic vaping devices and liquids in Switzerland. Valora consistently complies with the minimum age of 18 for the sale of e-cigarettes and accessories.

In order to enforce compliance with the minimum age of 18 years for the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes, Valora will steadily increase the number of anonymous test purchases it carries out at its points of sale.

This media release is available online at www.valora.com/newsroom.