Amid fears that children are increasingly using vapes and could become addicted, ministers are set to ban single-use vapes. The move is set to be introduced by 2025 as the Government has decided that the products, which often come in colourful packaging and fruity flavours, are overwhelmingly aimed at people under the age of 18.
The move forms part of a wider response to a public consultation on smoking and vaping, which has resulted in plans for some of the world’s toughest anti-smoking measures. Although vaping can be a useful tool in helping adult smokers to quit, doctors are concerned about the unknown long-term health impact of vaping on young people and their developing respiratory systems, as well as nicotine addiction, which can cause anxiety, trouble concentrating and headaches during withdrawal.
Recent figures show the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled, with 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds now using vapes. The proportion of 11- to 17-year-old vapers using disposables has increased almost nine-fold in the past two years.
Previous calls for a ban on vapes
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils and local authorities, has previously called for an outright ban on disposable vapes by next year. It argues that single use vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary should be banned on environmental and health grounds and it is important that legislation is made rapidly, as with the EU proposing a ban in 2026.
Councillor David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “Councils are not anti-vapes, which are shown to be less harmful than smoking and have a place as a tool to use in smoking cessation. However, disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more vapes”.
Councils are also concerned about the impact vaping is having upon children and young people. It is worrying that more and more children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping.
“Single use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, are expensive and difficult to deal with in our recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children and the penalties for retailers selling them don’t go far enough. Councils urge the Government to take this action to protect our planet, keep children safe and save taxpayers money.”Cllr David Fothergill
Additionally, Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has previously said: “The key points about vaping (e-cigarettes) can be easily summarised. If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable”.
Doctors have linked vaping to a number of health problems including asthma, lung scarring, and further organ damage. In response to Westminster’s consultation, Dr Mike McKean of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) previously said “youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children, and I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis.”
Environmental issues
This move by the Government also comes after Material Focus revealed last year that the number of disposable vapes thrown away has quadrupled to five million per week over the past year. Single use vapes are designed as one unit so batteries cannot be separated from the plastic, making them almost impossible to recycle without going through special treatment.
More than seven million single-use vapes are bought every week in the UK. Not only is this concerning as this number has doubled since last year, but only 17% of people recycle their vapes in a shop or local recycling centre. Research carried out by the organisation found 73 per cent of UK vapers say they throw away single-use vapes, with 33 per cent of 16 to 18-year-old vapers admitting to disposing of their vapes in a bin at their place of education or work. Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said the problem of single-use vapes has got “out of control”.
The lithium batteries inside the plastic can also sharply increase in temperature if crushed and can become flammable. Disposable vapes are therefore a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries. With 1.3 million disposable vapes thrown away every week, they have also become a regular and obvious item of litter.
Responses
Announcing the move, Rishi Sunak 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. As prime minister, I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term. That is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes – which have driven the rise in youth vaping – and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.”
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health welcomed the announcement, which follows its campaign launched in June to ban disposable e-cigarettes and introduce marketing restrictions. Dr Mike McKean, a vice-president for policy at the college, said: “Bold action was always needed to curb youth vaping and banning disposables is a meaningful step in the right direction.”
Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, said: “When I asked children a couple of years ago about all aspects of their health and wellbeing, I was shocked and concerned to hear from children as young as 12 who told me that vaping was normalised among their peers – even on school premises. This announcement will help tackle that issue and I know that many children and parents will be extremely relieved.”
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said that while it welcomed on-the-spot powers for enforcement officers to deal with underage sales, it was “dismayed” by the decision, which it said could discourage smokers from using vapes to quit. A spokesperson said: “The answer to youth vaping doesn’t lie in counterproductive bans and restrictions, but rather in effective and proactive enforcement – which is woefully lacking – of the law which states that it is illegal for vapes to be sold to minors.”
Curia’s NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission
Independent, cross-party, and not-for-profit, as a policy institute Curia turns policy into practice as the UK’s first “do tank”.
Jointly chaired by former Life Sciences and Innovation Minister, Lord James O’Shaughnessy and former Deputy Medical Director at NHS England Professor Mike Bewick, the NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission seeks to identify examples of good practice in innovation, draw learning and consider how implementation plans across the sector can improve the lives of patients. By bringing together key strands of policy and developing effective implementation strategies through extensive research, the Commission seeks to see change at every level within the NHS.
