Disposable vapes will be prohibited in the UK as part of ambitious government efforts to combat the growth in teenage vaping and preserve children’s health, the Prime Minister announced at a visit to a school yesterday on January 29.
It is at present illegal in the UK to sell vapes or tobacco to minors under the age of 18, but regulators warn that teenage vaping has increased in the last three years, with inexpensive, colorful disposable vapes serving as a “key driver”.
Steps taken by the Government to ban disposable cigarettes
The Hon’ble 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.”
He also said that he has an obligation to do the right thing by taking such a bold action as it is the most responsible thing to do for the protection of the children for generations to come. Sunak announced plans to pass a new law that will make it unlawful to sell tobacco products to anybody born on or after January 1, 2009, to establish a smoke free generation.
The government said that new powers will be introduced it will “restrict flavors specifically marketed at children” and make sure that manufacturers use plainer, less visually attractive packaging. The powers will also empower the government to adjust how vapes are exhibited in stores, keeping them out of reach of youngsters and away from things that they like, such as sweets.
Measures taken by the Government to fulfil its promise
To combat underage sales, the government will also impose additional sanctions on retailers in England and Wales that illegally sell vapes to youngsters. Vaping alternatives, like nicotine pouches, will also be prohibited for youngsters, who are becoming more dependent on these extremely addictive substitutes.
The government has reiterated its commitment to creating the first smoke-free generation and introducing laws to ensure that youngsters turning 15 this year and younger are never legally marketed tobacco.
To guarantee the success of the smoke-free generation plan, £30 million in extra funds will be allocated each year to support enforcement agencies such as Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and trade standards in implementing these measures and eliminating opportunities for criminals.
