According to the CDC, vaping among high school students has increased by 78% in the last year. Many teens can be found using these small, USB-sized e-cigarettes in the bathroom, in their cars, at practice, and even in the classroom. Whether in middle school or high school, many kids nationwide are finding a way to purchase vapes. With tight FDA regulations, one would expect this to be near impossible, yet vapes among those under 18 are quite common. If retailers are required to check for the consumer’s ID, then how is it possible for teens to have access to these devices? Some people order online, ask a friend, or simply buy it themselves and risk getting caught.
I tested the difficulty of obtaining a vape by attempting to buy one myself. However, there were many obstacles that made this task difficult: strict parents, transportation, and the fact that I am not yet 18. With my parents, who need to know what I’m doing, where I’m going, whom I’m going with, how long I’ll be gone, and the middle name of my best friend’s mom, I did what any rational person would do: I lied.
I had barely begun to put on my coat when I was confronted by my parents. I told them I was going to study for AP Biology at Biggby Coffee. I was forced to bring my backpack and textbooks with me, despite the fact that there was no test to study for.
Taking the State Street construction detour to downtown Ann Arbor, I found that the drive felt abnormally long. Time seemingly stretched and my head swirled with the thought of the situation I was putting myself in. I began to overthink the conversation with the employee, the possible reactions I’d have, what I would say, what the employee would say, and how badly all of this could end up. These thoughts continued to churn until my head was so full it felt as if it would explode. I took a deep breath, turned down another Ann Arbor street, and parked my Hyundai in a parking garage.
Between all the time spent dwelling on possible outcomes and the time spent finding my way out of the parking lot, I had figured out an escape plan. In the situation that I would be asked to show ID, I would say, “Shoot, I left it in my car. I’ll be right back.” However, this backup plan provided me with little comfort. I began my two-block journey, and with each step I became more nervous and scared. There were several points at which I seriously considered turning around. Regardless, I pushed on toward my destination.
Approaching the vape shop (unnamed for business purposes), I felt the knot in my stomach tighten. I reached for the door, sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, and slipped through the door. At least a dozen clear display cases surrounded me, similar to the setup of a jewelry display (or should I say Juulry display), as it displayed each vape in a glorified fashion. I gazed at the plethora of colors and companies that were available and walked along the displays.
I approached the employee sitting behind the display. “What is my cheapest option? I lost my vape and need something to replace it. I know mine will turn up eventually, so I don’t want to spend a ton of money on it.” I felt my heart pounding and began to worry that my fake vape situation had caused suspicion.
Cameron, the employee, furrowed his brows in thought and finally guided me to a display with three different brands. Although the choices were all shaped differently, none were larger than the palm of my hand. Cameron began comparing prices, rambling on about the positives and negatives of each vape. After pretending to contemplate this life-altering decision, I finally picked out a “SMOK Nord Vape” that was a light sky blue. This compact device could fit in the palm of my hand just like a portable charger would.
At the register, the vape was scanned and my total of $28 ran across the screen. Cameron was then nice enough to give me a discount, for absolutely no reason, bringing my total down to $23. I paid in cash, took my change, thanked Cameron, and left.
That’s it.
No questions.
No ID check.
As I stepped out of the door, my body filled with relief and I made the two-block journey back to my car. Upon reaching my car, I unzipped my backpack and placed my new vape inside, along with my textbooks and folders. The drive back was not nearly as long as the drive there. Arriving home, I confidently, yet nonchalantly, stepped inside and greeted my family. I lugged my backpack up the stairs and to my room where I hid the SMOK under my dresser.
I had just successfully bought a vape in about two hours and was even back in time for dinner, all while being underage. To be honest, I wasn’t surprised. I’ve heard, from various people, that most places don’t bother to check ID, despite the law.
With shops failing to check ID, it is no wonder why vaping is considered a national epidemic. The FDA is likely to tighten the vaping laws even more, but those laws are unlikely to be followed. Until the FDA decides to take vapes off the market altogether, the epidemic will surge on.
NOTE: Vape was returned a few days after it was purchased.