The UK government is taking action to address the increasing number of young people turning to vaping by planning a ban on disposable vapes and implementing measures to curb marketing towards children.
According to figures from the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity, 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to unveil the plans during a school visit, expressing concern about the rising trend of vaping among children.
This move follows last year’s initiative to create a “smoke-free generation” by banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
While selling vapes to individuals under 18 is already illegal, disposable vapes are singled out as a significant contributor to the surge in youth vaping.
Disposable vapes, often packaged attractively, are expected to be banned across the UK, pending confirmation of the timing.
The changes will also target refillable vapes, aiming to prevent their sale in child-friendly flavors and requiring plainer, less appealing packaging. Retailers will have six months to comply once the ban is confirmed.
To further discourage underage sales, additional fines will be imposed on shops in England and Wales found illegally selling vapes to children.
The ban will extend to nicotine pouches, which release nicotine without containing tobacco, currently legally available to under-18s.
A public consultation will determine which flavors should be banned and how refillable vapes are sold.
While vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, health leaders aim to ensure that the new measures do not hinder adult smokers from transitioning to vaping as an alternative.
The announcement follows a consultation last year, with nearly 70% of respondents supporting a ban on disposable vapes.
The Scottish and Welsh governments are also backing bans in their respective regions, while Northern Ireland, without a devolved administration, expresses a commitment to a tobacco-free future.
Deborah Arnott, CEO of Ash, supports the government’s strategy, emphasizing the need to prevent smoking initiation and support smokers to quit while protecting children from youth vaping. The UK Vaping Industry Association expresses disappointment, arguing that better enforcement of existing laws is preferable to an outright ban.
Despite the UK’s move to ban disposable vapes, some argue that more comprehensive measures, such as taxing e-cigarettes and restricting availability, may be necessary. Other countries like Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand have also announced similar plans to address the issue.