Ban on disposable vapes to protect children’s health
Disposable vapes will be banned across the UK, to help tackle the alarming rates of children buying and using vapes and tobacco, and aiming to create a smokefree generation. The new laws will stop vapes being marketed at children, helping to prevent underage sales.
The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown, with the nicotine contained in them being highly addictive. And recent figures from the Action and Smoking Health charity (ASH) show the number of young people using vapes in the past three years has tripled, with 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds now using the products.
Today’s announcement means:
- Disposable vapes will be banned.
- New powers will be introduced to restrict flavours and packaging that are specifically marketed at children.
- A new law will be introduced making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, creating a smokefree generation.
Today’s ban on the marketing of vapes to children and the sale of disposable vapes is a huge step forward in protecting young people from the potential long-term damage caused by vaping and nicotine addiction.
David Ramsden, Chief Executive of Cystic Fibrosis Trust
It must now be swiftly introduced to prevent any further harm to young people’s health.