Janice R. Andrews
The UK government has announced plans to outlaw disposable vapes in an effort to slow the worrying growth in the number of young people who are starting to vape. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delineated strategies aimed at curbing sales of vaping devices to minors and preventing their marketing. The prohibition, which will be enforced throughout the UK, attempts to address the significant contribution that disposable vapes make to the rise in youth vaping.
The government claims that even though it is currently against the law to sell any kind of vape to anybody under the age of 18, disposable vapes—which are frequently offered in eye-catching packaging—have played a big role in the growth in youth vaping.
According to data from the organisation Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), the percentage of 11 to 17-year-olds who vape regularly or infrequently has increased from 4.1% to 7.6% since 2020.
The Prime Minister, Sunak, stressed the need for “strong action” to stop minors from vaping because the long-term health effects are unclear. The UK Vaping Industry Association voiced concerns, claiming that by encouraging the underground market, the planned ban may put youngsters in danger.
The nationwide implementation of the ban is anticipated to follow the previous year’s ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 1, 2009. Liz Truss, the former prime minister, denounced the action as “profoundly unconservative.”
As soon as the timing is set, retailers will have six months to conform. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Labour, praised the government’s two-year wait in introducing legislation, although he supported the ban on disposable vapes.
Furthermore, the amendments include imposing restrictions on visually appealing packaging and outlawing specific flavours in order to govern the sale of refillable vapes. The prohibited flavours and sales guidelines will be decided after a public survey. In England and Wales, the penalties for selling e-cigarettes to minors underage will rise.
The long-standing criticisms made by activists against disposable vapes for being wasteful and difficult to dispose of responsibly are taken into consideration in order to address worries about the environmental impact. Children will not be allowed to use nicotine packets, which are an alternative to vaping.
While Northern Ireland is getting ready to make a judgement on the matter, the governments of Scotland and Wales have promised to back the prohibition. The UK is planning to outlaw disposable vapes, joining a small group of nations that already includes Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand. Critics call for more stringent regulations, such as a charge or only allowing prescriptions for e-cigarettes.
The UK Vaping Industry Association expressed shock and demanded that current regulations be better enforced. Major vape manufacturer Elf Bar expressed sadness with the complete prohibition but backed the government’s goal.
The UK division of British American Tobacco proposed that stricter import, appeal, and access regulations would be more successful in lowering underage consumption. Officers from Trading Standards demanded greater time and resources to take action against unscrupulous retailers, and in October the government approved a £30 million package to aid with enforcement.
