Following new test purchases of tobacco made in the canton of Vaud by young people aged 14 to 17, a quarter of the hundred establishments already in violation in 2023 reoffended a year later. A ban on the sale of tobacco for one month was imposed on the points of sale concerned.
ATS
Launched in May 2023, the Vaud tobacco and alcohol test purchase campaign must continue until 2026, the Canton recalled in a press release on Wednesday. Staff are responsible for ensuring customers are of legal age to purchase tobacco. If in doubt, you must ask for proof of identity. In the canton, 1,600 establishments have an authorization to sell tobacco.
Last year, around 400 points of sale were tested, using the mystery shopper technique. In 30% of cases, minors were able to obtain tobacco, even though the law prohibits it. Analyzed by Addiction Suisse, the results indicated that almost half of sales (41%) took place through vending machines. The law requires that operators also monitor these machines.
Severe punishment possible
This year, it is the points of sale which were in violation in 2023 which were the subject of test purchases. Of the 98 points of sale visited, 74.5% respected the sales ban. And in 25.5% of cases, young people were able to obtain tobacco again.
Repeat offender establishments have been reported to the prefectures who can impose a temporary ban on sales for a period of ten days to six months, indicates the Canton. The offending points of sale, after having had the right to be heard, were temporarily banned from selling tobacco products and other similar products for a period of one month.
In 2024, the rate of sales through automatic devices seems to have reduced, reaching a proportion equivalent to that of hand delivery, we observe. As such, the law was updated following the first test purchases. Since July 1, 2025, all tobacco sales devices must have an ID reader system.
Better display
The law provides for the prominent display of the youth protection notice reminding that the sale of tobacco to people under 18 is prohibited and punishable. In 69% of points of sale visited in 2024, the notice was clearly visible, twice as many as in 2023. The reminder of the legal framework thus made it possible to improve compliance with a little-known provision, underlines the Canton .
“Based on these results, improvements still need to be made by points of sale to reduce the accessibility of tobacco products to young people. But it is reassuring to see that nearly 74.5% of them have corrected their situation to comply with legal provisions,” comment the Departments of Health and the Economy.
“The efforts undertaken by the catering industry have notably made it possible to reduce the gap observed during the first wave of tests between direct sales and that carried out through automatic devices located in public establishments. This positive development, which indicates an awareness of players in the sector, is welcomed by the Canton,” we add.
