New regulations governing the sale of electronic cigarettes in Massachusetts take effect this coming week.
As of Friday, anyone under 18 years old will be barred from buying e-cigarettes.
The regulations also ban the promotional giveaway or free distribution of e-cigarettes and require that they be kept out of the reach of customers.
Attorney General Maura Healey said the regulations also ban most sales of e-cigarettes except through face-to-face purchases and not through vending machines except in adults-only establishments.
Other regulations requiring that the liquids and gels used in the devices be sold in child-resistant packaging won't take effect until March 15, 2016.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that turn nicotine-containing liquid into vapor that is inhaled. Though nicotine can be addictive, e-cigarettes lack the chemicals and tars of burning tobacco.
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