The UK government is planning to take measures to reduce young people’s access to vapes, as concern grows among health officials over a surge in underage e-cigarette use. The government is set to consult on banning flavoured single-use vapes in England and has announced new funding for a task force to crack down on retailers targeting teenagers.
In a speech at the centre-right Policy Exchange think-tank, health minister Neil O’Brien will launch a call for evidence to identify ways of reducing young people’s access to vapes, which could include outlawing sweet flavours. The announcement marks the first sign of the government tightening the regulation around e-cigarettes in England.
The clampdown follows a wave of new flavoured, single-use vapes going on sale in the UK over the past two years from brands including Elf Bar, Geek Bar and Lost Mary. Some 18 per cent of 15-year-olds in England and Wales were using e-cigarettes in February last year — an all-time high, according to the NHS. Overall, the number of 11- to 17-year-olds vaping in Britain more than doubled from 3.3 per cent to 7 per cent between 2021 and 2022, the charity Action on Smoking and Health has said.
Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, expressed concern that the “principal market” for such products was children, arguing that more needed to be done to stop underage vaping. Research suggests that nicotine use at a young age increases the likelihood of mood and attention disorders, while some scientists have expressed fears about long-term health damage caused by vaping.
The health department said it would also explore the marketing and promotion of vapes and the environmental impact of disposable e-cigarettes. Analysis by the Financial Times last month showed that more than 20 tonnes of lithium were used in the 138mn single-use vapes sold in the UK in 2022, potentially wasting enough of the rare metal to produce about 2,600 electric vehicle batteries.
The UK Vaping Industry Association cautioned ministers against making changes that were “too radical”, arguing that a ban on flavoured vapes could “lead to millions of adult vapers taking up smoking again”. Last year, a review commissioned by ministers urged health authorities to “embrace” vaping to help the government meet its target of cutting smoking rates by more than half to 5 per cent in 2020.
While vaping can be a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, there is concern about the increasing use of disposable vaping products among youth. The call for evidence by O’Brien aims to give the government “a firm understanding of the steps” that can be taken to reduce underage vaping rates.
The £3mn of extra funding for an illicit vapes enforcement squad led by Trading Standards will empower it to investigate whether shops are selling vapes to under-18s and to remove illicit products from shelves.
In conclusion, the government is set to clamp down on vape products targeted at teens by banning flavoured single-use vapes in England and providing new funding for a task force to crack down on retailers targeting teenagers. The clampdown follows a wave of new flavoured, single-use vapes going on sale in the UK over the past two years from brands including Elf Bar, Geek Bar and Lost Mary. Some 18 per cent of 15-year-olds in England and Wales were using e-cigarettes in February last year — an all-time high, according to the NHS. The call for evidence by Neil O’Brien aims to give the government a firm understanding of the steps that can be taken to reduce underage vaping rates.
FAQs
Why is the UK government banning flavoured single-use vapes?
The UK government is banning flavoured single-use vapes to reduce young people’s access to vapes and crack down on retailers targeting teenagers, as concern grows among health officials over a surge in underage e-cigarette use.What measures will the government take to reduce young people’s access to vapes?
The government is set to consult on banning flavoured single-use vapes in England and has announced new funding for a task force to crack down on retailers targeting teenagers.What is the concern with underage e-cigarette use?
Research suggests that nicotine use at a young age increases the likelihood of mood and attention disorders, while some scientists have expressed fears about long-term health damage caused by vaping.Why is the UK Vaping Industry Association cautioning against making changes that are “too radical”?
The UK Vaping Industry Association is concerned that a ban on flavoured vapes could “lead to millions of adult vapers taking up smoking again”.What will the illicit vapes enforcement squad led by Trading Standards do?
The illicit vapes enforcement squad led by Trading Standards will investigate whether shops are selling vapes to under-18s and remove illicit products from shelves.
