‘Disposable vapes ban won’t be effective here’

The boss of the United Kingdom's largest tobacco firm has said a ban on disposable vapes will not be "effective", claiming similar legislation overseas has not worked.

Last week, the Government introduced legislation aimed at curbing youth smoking, with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill restricting the sale of tobacco so that anyone turning 15 this year, or younger, will never legally be able to purchase cigarettes over the counter.

It will effectively raise the age of tobacco sale by one year every year, with the aim of stopping today's youngsters from ever taking up smoking in the first place.

The Bill will also tackle youth vaping, by introducing new powers to restrict vape flavours and packaging intentionally marketed at children.

Separately, the Government has committed to ban disposable vapes from April 2025 under environmental laws.

However, Tadeu Marroco, chief executive of British American Tobacco, told the BBC similar legislation introduced overseas had been ineffective and had only pushed people to purchase vaping products on the black market.

"In other countries this hasn't been effective," he said.

"In Australia they have banned the whole category, and the amount teenagers use in the illegal market is very high. The same is happening in Brazil."

Mr Marroco also warned of "non-intended consequences" of the Government's plan for rising age restrictions, instead suggesting a "retail licence as we (have) for alcohol", and a ban on flavours which might appeal to children such as sweets and soft drinks.

He said: "There is no doubt that the UK is being looked at by a number of countries around the world.

"That's why it's so important to get it right here."

Mr Marroco added: “We need to tackle first of all the underage vapour use, we need to have a retail licence as we do for alcohol.”