The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday that vitamin inhalers which are consumed in a similar way as smoking a cigarette will be designated as a harmful item to youths from next Monday.
 
People selling these smoke sticks to teenagers will be subject to a maximum two year prison sentence or fines of up to 20 million won.
 
The products must also carry labels indicating a youth sale ban from January first.
 
The ban applies to vitamin inhalers such as VitaStik, Relaxtick and Vitalong as well as products that help suppress the urge to smoke such as Tabacare.
 
Vitamin smoke sticks are a vitamin vaporizer consumed using an electronic device.
 
They have been under fire for instigating smoking habits among teenagers as they are similar to electronic cigarettes in appearance and in function.