Ban on disposable vapes to stop children getting ‘hooked for life’
DISPOSABLE vapes will be banned and other e-cigarettes placed behind shop counters as part of the Government’s efforts to stop children becoming “hooked for life”.
Rishi Sunak will unveil plans today to limit reusable vapes to just four flavours and end the use of colourful packaging marketing them to youngsters.
Disposable vapes will be completely banned and shops will be made to place other e-cigarettes behind the counter, as part of his plans to phase out smoking by gradually raising the age limit for buying cigarettes. Victoria Atkins, the
Health Secretary, said the plans would stop “children from becoming hooked for life”.
However, Mr Sunak faces a backlash from Tory MPS over the proposals, which Liz Truss branded “absurd” and an “extension of the nanny state”.
A group of backbenchers are mobilising to vote against the legislation when it comes before the Commons early next month in another blow to his authority.
The ban on disposable vapes, first revealed by The Telegraph last week, could come into force as soon as this year and is by early next year at the latest.
The single-use e-cigarettes are available for as little as £3 each, raising fears that children have been lured into the habit by “pocket money” prices. Under the plan only more expensive refillable cigarettes will be legally available, and they will have to be placed behind the counter in stores.
Shop owners will have to check that customers are over 18 when buying the products or run the risk of being hit with a £100 on the spot penalty notice.
Ms Atkins said: “The health advice is clear, vapes should only ever be used as a tool to quit smoking. But we are committed to doing more to protect our children from illicit underage vaping, and by banning disposable vapes we’re preventing children from becoming hooked for life. The Prime Minister
Minister 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.”
Under the plans a law will be passed to ban the sale of disposable vapes, followed by a six-month phasing in period to allow shops to adapt.
Under the law, to come into force from 2027, nobody currently aged 15 or under will ever be able to legally buy cigarettes.
Ministers will also table new legislation within weeks that will give them the power to end the marketing of reusable e-cigarettes towards children.
Colourful packages aimed at kids will be banned, and the legislation will also give ministers the power to go even further by mandating cigarette-style plain cartons with no branding.
Government data shows the number of children vaping has tripled in three years, with one in 10 under 16s now using e-cigarettes.
The proportion of 11-17-year-olds vaping has risen almost ninefold in the last two years alone.
Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner, said she had been “shocked” to hear from children as young as 12 that vaping was normal in the playground.
The vaping industry said outlawing disposable vapes and restricting the number of favours would “push those that have quit, back into smoking”.
Marcus Saxton, of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, added: “A ban will simply benefit those pushing illegal and unregulated products as people seek out single-use and flavoured vapes from illicit sources.”
Mr Sunak faces a bigger battle with Tory MPS over his plan to ban smoking, which is opposed by the influential Common Sense Group.
The charge is being led by Ms Truss, the former prime minister, who said adults “must be able to make their own choices about their own lives”.