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The state’s top doctor is calling for warning labels on e cigarette devices and vials of liquid nicotine., It is already illegal for anyone under 18 to use or be sold e cigarette products, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, being illegal hasn’t stopped an explosion in underage use.

State lawmakers make it clear last year…e cigarettes were illegal for anyone under 18. But that’s not good enough says the Department of Health.  The State’s top doctor wants warning labels, and child proof caps which can only come with federal regulation. Shannon Hughes is the State Health Departments point person on tobacco.

““The packaging is a concern. There is no regulation, no law, that says how the liquid nicotine is to be dispensed. They currently do not have child safe lids on them” says Hughes.

In this store there are three signs that say you must be at least 18, and they check ID.

E cigarette use by high school age students has doubled in just a year. And despite age restrictions, internet purchases remain a problem.

And liquid tobacco can be colorful to young eyes. Calls nationally to poison control hot lines have also increased from one a month to 215.

Amy and Jim Hampton have been selling e cigarettes for three years

“I think it does need to have warning labels on. You know, you want it to be a safe product” says Amy Hampton

Amy says parents have some responsibility as well.

“Don’t leave your juice sitting where a child can access it” she advises.

Sot: Shannon Hughes

“It’s all our responsibility. We, at Public Health, our job is to get the word out and help raise awareness” says DOH’s Hughes.

The most recent statistics show there were 136 arrests for selling tobacco products to under age buyers.

Underage tobacco users can expect to do community service and pay a small fine. Multiple violations can result in a teen’s drivers license being suspended. More than 500 were suspended in the most recent statistics.