Full list of major vaping changes confirmed to happen in UK crackdown
Rishi Sunak is cracking down on the vaping industry in the UK and has announced new measures in the hopes of deterring young people and children from picking one up.
The strict new rules set to be introduced are a part of the government's response to its consultation on smoking and vaping, which was launched back in October last year.
Shocking figures show the number of children using vapes has skyrocketed recently.
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Some nine percent of 11 to 15-year-olds are now using vapes, meanwhile the proportion of 11 to 17-year-olds using disposables has increased by ninefold in the last two years.
Vaping is particularly concerning due to the fact that the long-term health impacts are currently unknown and hospital admissions for children who vape have quadrupled in a year.
The UK government have been forced to take action in a bid to stop the younger generation from picking up one of the brightly coloured and fruit flavoured e-cigs.
Discussing the reasoning behind banning disposable vapes, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "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.
“The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.
“As Prime Minister I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term. That is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes – which have driven the rise in youth vaping – and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.
“Alongside our commitment to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term”.
Here's a rundown on all the proposed new rules which are set to come into force as part of the vaping crackdown.
Restricting flavours of vapes so they appeal less to children
The government could look at getting rid of flavours of vapes which are seen as made to target children.
In March 2023, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told LADbible about the view on flavoured vapes: "Smoking kills, so our priority is to prevent people smoking, and supporting them to quit. The government remains committed to our ambition to be smoke-free by 2030.
"However, while vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, we are concerned about the rise in youth vaping, particularly the increasing use of disposable vaping products.
"We are exploring a range of measures to address this – including clamping down on children accessing vapes illegally, and those who are getting them hooked on nicotine.
"It’s right for the government to do all it can to protect children from addiction."
Cracking down on displays in shops
Vapes on the shelves of shops might soon be a thing of the past as e-cigarettes might get the smoking treatment.
They could instead become something you can only get from behind the counter.
Tackling packaging
Going for the cigarette approach by plastering packs with pictures of damaged lungs might be out of the question, but one idea that is on the table is getting rid of brightly coloured vapes.
Just as fruity and sweet flavours are thought to appeal to children, so do garish colours. But that could soon be a thing of the past as the government try to put people off the e-cigarettes.
Ditching the disposable vapes
More than half of vapers have used disposable vapes, but under government plans they could disappear from shelves in the UK.
Government ministers worry that these things are both attractive to children and harmful to the environment.
Nailing other nicotine products
With nicotine addiction such a dangerous part of vaping and smoking there could be action taken against other products such as snus which can get people hooked on the habit.
Nicotine pouches could also find themselves on the chopping block.
Pumping up the prices
Some charities have called for vapes to become more expensive to stop children from spending their pocket money on the habit.
There are disposable vapes which can be bought for a fiver and there could be punitive taxes slapped on vaping to make it much more expensive to get into.
New powers to punish
Local authorities could have new abilities to punish those who are breaking the law around vaping and selling vapes.
Retailers could face on-the-spot fines for places which are caught selling to under 18s and which do not carry out proper ID checks.
The views of charities, expert groups and the vaping industry will be sought over the eight-week consultation period.
Topics: UK News, Vaping, Health, Money, Rishi Sunak
Olivia Burke