The British government has announced its plans to implement a ban on the sale of disposable vapes and restrict the variety of flavors available in an effort to combat the rising trend of youth vaping. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to unveil the details of this plan on Monday.
While it is already illegal to sell vapes or tobacco to individuals under 18 in the UK, officials are concerned about the significant increase in youth vaping, which has tripled over the past three years. They attribute this rise to the popularity of cheap and brightly colored disposable vapes.
In addition to the ban on disposable vapes, the government intends to restrict flavors that are specifically marketed towards children. Furthermore, they plan to regulate the packaging of vapes to make them less visually appealing for young individuals.
The Prime Minister highlighted the urgency to address this issue, stating, 'As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic.' Sunak also emphasized the unknown long-term effects of vaping and the highly addictive nature of nicotine, stating that although vaping can be advantageous for smokers trying to quit, marketing vapes to children is unacceptable.
In addition to the measures addressing vaping, Sunak's government is set to continue with a previously announced plan to incrementally raise the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes. The ultimate goal is to ensure that individuals born after January 1, 2009, will never be legally allowed to purchase cigarettes.
While health experts have welcomed this initiative, some members of the Conservative Party have expressed their discontent, viewing it as excessive state intervention. The plan was inspired by a proposal in New Zealand that was ultimately discarded after a change in government.
According to official figures, smoking rates in the UK have significantly declined over the past few decades, with a two-thirds reduction since the 1970s. However, approximately 6.4 million people, accounting for roughly 13% of the population, still smoke.
With the implementation of these new regulations, the British government aims to curtail the growing issue of youth vaping and further reduce smoking rates in the country. By placing restrictions on disposable vapes and flavors targeted at children, as well as gradually increasing the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes, they hope to protect young individuals from becoming addicted to nicotine and encourage smokers to quit their habit.
