Disposable Vapes Banned and Flavors Restricted: New Rules to Curb Underage Vaping
The Government have moved forward with their plan to cut down on the number of children smoking. The Disposable Vape ban will come into force at the end of this year
In a dramatic bid to curb the alarming rise of underage vaping, new rules are set to come into force by the end of this year. The Government plan to ban the sale of disposable vapes and will also restrict the flavours of vape juice.
The government aims to protect children from the addictive habit, as figures reveal that one in five youngsters has already tried vaping, despite it being illegal for those under 18.
While e-cigarettes can be beneficial for adult smokers looking to quit, there are concerns that non-smokers, particularly those aged between 18 and 24, are taking up disposable vapes without any history of smoking.
Health campaigners warn that these throwaway products, available for as little as £3, are enticing young people with their pocket-friendly prices, leading to an increase in litter as five million disposable vapes are discarded each week.
Disposable vapes, such as Lost Marys and Elf Bars, will face a complete ban under the new rules. The government believes that this step is necessary to prevent children from becoming hooked on vaping for life.
The ban will apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, ensuring a unified approach in tackling this issue across the UK.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “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.”
In addition to the ban on disposable vapes, the new rules will grant ministers the power to restrict vape flavours specifically marketed at children.
While the final decision is yet to be made, the government is considering allowing only tobacco, mint, menthol, and fruit flavours. This measure aims to limit the appeal of vapes to young people and discourage them from taking up the habit.
To make vaping products less appealing to children, the government plans to introduce new rules on packaging and display.
The exact details of these regulations are yet to be finalized, but the intention is clear: to reduce the attractiveness of vapes to young people.
Furthermore, the government will consult on rules regarding the display of vapes in shops, potentially moving them out of sight of children.
The rise in underage vaping has become a cause for concern among health campaigners and policymakers. Research shows that half of those aged between 18 and 24 who use disposable vapes do so without any prior history of smoking.
This worrying trend raises questions about the long-term impacts of vaping, as the addictive nature of nicotine can lead to a lifetime of dependence.
Moreover, the affordability of disposable vapes, with prices as low as £3, is a significant factor in attracting young people to try these products.
The lure of pocket money prices combined with the wide availability of disposable vapes has contributed to the surge in underage vaping.
This, in turn, has led to a substantial increase in litter, with five million disposable vapes discarded each week.
To ensure compliance with the new regulations, fines will be introduced for shops in England and Wales that sell vapes illegally to children.
The government recognizes the importance of enforcing these rules to protect young people from the harms of vaping.
This crackdown on illegal sales aims to create a deterrent for retailers and send a clear message that selling vapes to underage individuals will not be tolerated.
While there is ongoing discussion about the potential introduction of a new tax on vaping to deter underage usage, the government is expected to wait and assess the impact of the disposable vape ban first.
Additionally, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will announce measures to crack down on the trade of illicit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. These efforts aim to address the wider issue of tobacco-related products reaching underage consumers.
At the weekend we sent out reporters to Skegness, Manchester, Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Grimsby, Boston, and Liverpool to see if there was a real problem with underage vaping. During just one hour in each area, we came across more than one hundred underage vapers. This shows that there is a serious problem, and more worrying, where are they getting the vapes from.
Although the Government ban aims to help reduce the number of underage vapers, not everyone is happy. We spoke to one hundred adult vapers to find out what they thought of the ban.
72% agreed with the ban of disposable vapes. However, only 15% of those we spoke to agreed with the ban on the wide range of flavours available. The generally feeling was the Government should target the shops selling the Vape juice and not the users of vapes.