The U.K government states that in an effort to address the growing number of young people who are starting to vape, disposable vapes will be banned. Additionally, policies will be implemented to target underage sales and stop the marketing of vapes to youngsters. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that the proposals won’t restrict adult smokers trying to quit from having access to vapes or other options. The government states that the ban will probably be enacted over the whole of the United Kingdom.
Legal Framework and Alarming Trends
Although it is presently against the law in the U.K to offer tobacco or vapes to anybody under the age of 18, officials claim that youth vaping has increased over the past three years. Statistics provided by the Action on Smoking and Health(Ash) charity indicate that the percentage of 11 to 17 years old now vape regularly or occasionally, has risen to 7.6% compared to 4.1% in 2020. The inexpensive, disposable, colorful vapes are a “key driver”. The government claims that in addition to outlawing disposable vapes, it would also “restrict flavors which are specifically marketed at children ” and make sure that vapes are packaged in “less visually appealing ways” by manufacturers.
Expressing concern and official announcement
The Prime Minister expressed concern about the alarming increase in vaping among children, stating that action must be taken before it becomes endemic, as any parent or teacher would acknowledge. On Monday, Mr. Sunak in his announcement, expressed the necessity of taking “strong action” to eliminate vaping among the youth. He emphasized that the unknown long term effects of vaping and the highly addictive nature of nicotine within them makes marketing vapes to children unacceptable, even though vaping can serve as a useful tool to aid smokers in quitting.
Gradual Shift In Legal Age
The Government also said that that it will proceed with the plan which was announced last year to progressively raise the legal smoking age, making it impossible for anybody born after January 1, 2009 to ever purchase cigarettes. By the time of this year’s general election, the new vape bill is expected to pass parliament, and Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, told the BBC that she was hopeful it will go into force in early 2025. If the time is set, retailers will have six months to implement it.
Political Responses and Environmental Advocacy
Although he criticized the Government for what he described as a two-year delay in enacting legislation, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that he was in favour of banning disposable vapes. The measure may be introduced utilizing already-existing environmental protection laws. Campaigners have repeatedly argued that disposable vaporizers are hazardous and difficult to properly dispose of due to the materials and chemicals used while making them, including their lithium batteries.
Debate over sufficiency of U.K measures
The UK has joined a select club of nations that want to outlaw single-use electronic cigarettes. Similar plans have been proposed by Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand; however, only New Zealand has carried them out thus far. There will be many who contend that the UK’s measures are still insufficient. While Australia has restricted access to vapes to prescription only, there have been proposals for an e-cigarette tax to level the playing field with tobacco taxes.
The most recent changes would also grant the authority to prohibit the sale of refillable vapes in flavors targeted towards minors and mandate that they be made in less aesthetically pleasing, simpler packaging. Additionally, the government will have the authority to order stores to keep refillable vapes out of children’s reach and away from potentially dangerous items like sweets. The government said that more public input would be held to determine which flavors should be prohibited and how refillable vapes will be marketed.
The highest fine that local authorities may issue is £2,500, and in October the government proposed a £30 million package to bolster enforcement.
