Single-use vapes banned to curb use among young

SINGLE-USE vapes will be banned as part of a move to curb their use by youngsters, ministers will announce.

The Government is preparing to respond to a consultation on vaping and phasing out sales of cigarettes, ahead of a bill next month.

On Monday it is expected to publish plans that will include a ban on disposable vapes in an effort to stop the habit among children and young people.

Research in January showed that half of 18-24 year-olds who use disposable vapes had not previously smoked.

Health campaigners have warned youngsters are being lured in by “pocket money” prices, with vapes available for as little as £3.

Ministers are seeking to draw up measures that will stop children taking up the habit, while ensuring that they do not deter smokers using e-cigarettes as a route to quitting smoking.

The plans will also involve an attempt to rein in the marketing and flavours of vapes, and could include increased taxes on them.

A Cancer Research UK study found that from January 2021 to August 2023, the prevalence of disposable e-cigarette use grew from 0.1 per cent to 4.9 per cent of the adult population.

Among those aged 18 to 24 the proportion using disposable vapes is significantly higher with 14.4 per cent of this cohort using the devices, including 7.1 per cent who use them despite not having a history of smoking tobacco.

Researchers said any ban would need to be backed by measures that encourage current and former smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.

The Government is to phase out the sale of cigarettes, by raising the legal age of purchase by a year every 12 months.