Disposable vapes will be banned as part of the drive to protect children’s health, the government has confirmed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today (29 January) revealed that disposable vapes will be banned and announced new powers to restrict packaging and how e-cigarettes are displayed in stores.
The measure comes as part of the government’s response to its consultation on smoking and vaping, which was launched in October last year.
Recent figures show the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled. Use among younger children is also increasing, with 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds now using vapes.
Outlaw alternatives
As part of today’s package, the government will also:
- Restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children and ensure that manufacturers produce plainer, less visually appealing packaging
- Change how vapes are displayed in shops, moving them out of sight of children and away from products that appeal to them like sweets
- Introduce new fines for shops in England and Wales which sell vapes illegally to children. Trading standards officers will be empowered to act ‘on the spot’ to tackle underage tobacco and vape sales. This builds on a maximum £2,500 fine that local authorities can already impose
- Outlaw vaping alternatives – such as nicotine pouches – for children.
This comes as a study suggests banning disposable vapes could have ‘unintended consequences’ on the UK.
Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care), said: ‘In the event of a ban, it would be important to encourage current and ex-smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.’
Worrying trends
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: ‘As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic.
‘The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.
‘As Prime Minister I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term. That is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes – which have driven the rise in youth vaping – and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.
‘Alongside our commitment to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term.’
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins added: ‘The health advice is clear, vapes should only ever be used as a tool to quit smoking.
‘But we are committed to doing more to protect our children from illicit underage vaping, and by banning disposable vapes we’re preventing children from becoming hooked for life.’
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