A qualitative analysis of how underage adolescents access nicotine vaping products in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Vaping access routes sit on a continuum from informal, spontaneous sharing to carefully planned commercial purchases.While supply via friends, siblings and other social contacts is an important means of access, nicotine dependence drives some to use riskier access routes, including approaching unknown people to act as proxy purchasers.Evidence young people identify non-compliant retailers suggests policy makers should monitor and enforce existing measures more stringently and consider additional penalties for recidivist under-age suppliers.A more comprehensive response that reduces the appeal, addictiveness, affordability, and availability of vaping products would address factors fostering and maintaining youth vaping.