Experts push for crackdown as rate of child vaping doubles

EXPERTS have demanded a clampdown on vaping by children after data showed their usage has doubled in a year.

Scientists warned Britain is ‘sleepwalking’ into a child vaping ‘epidemic’, with 8.6 per cent of 11 to 18-year-olds now using vapes compared with 4 per cent in 2021.

The data was included in a landmark study into e-cigarette devices by King’s College London which said the addictive nicotine products are not risk-free. The surge is fuelled by multi-coloured and sweet-flavoured disposable e-cigarettes which are made by many different brands, with Geek Bars and Elf Bars considered the most popular.

Use of disposable e-cigarettes among 11 to 18-year-olds has shot up from 7.8 per cent of vaping products to 52.8 per cent, according to Action on Smoking and Health.

The team behind the King’s report said they ‘strongly discourage’ nonsmokers from vaping, stressing that ‘fresh air’ is always a better option.

They also voiced concerns about the use of vape devices in TV programmes because of the potential influence on children.

The report, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, was published last night by the Department of Health and Social Care. It emphasised that vaping was ‘good news’ for current smokers as it can lead to ‘a substantial reduction in exposure to toxicants that promote cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease’.

But, referring to use by children, it said ‘more frequent surveillance of single-use disposable vaping products’ is now needed.

The report also said local authority trading standards efforts ‘have been scaled down and compliance with regulations is not enough to prevent underage sales and access to illicit products’.

Commenting on the study, Professor Andrew Bush of Imperial College London said colourful vape products are being ‘aggressively’ targeted at children. He said: ‘Companies don’t give a damn about children’s health – they are just looking to profit... The Government needs to implement some stiff penalties for selling such vape products to children.’

‘Sleepwalking into an epidemic’