Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce the introduction of new legislation to ban disposable vapes in the UK on Monday (January 29).
The ban on disposable vapes comes as the Government attempts to tackle the rise in young people vaping across the country as well as protecting children’s health.
This comes following consultation launched by the Government around smoking and vaping in October last year.
New data shows the number of children vaping in the last three years has tripled, the Government said, with disposable vapes pushing this rise.
The number of 11 to 15-year-olds using vapes is up around nine per cent while the proportion of 11 to 17-year-old vapers using disposables has increased around nine times over the past two years.
Disposable vapes to be banned in the UK
Mr Sunak is set to make an announcement on Monday (January 29), during a school visit, outlining the Government's plan to bring in legislation under the Environmental Protection Act to ban disposable vapes across the UK.
New powers will also be introduced which will:
- Restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children
- Ensure that manufacturers produce plainer packaging
- Change how vapes are displayed in shops (moving them out of children’s sight)
New fines will also be brought in for shops in England and Wales which sell vapes illegally to children.
Trading standards officers will be given powers to act “on the spot” to tackle underage tobacco and vape sales. This is on top of a £2,500 fine (max) local authorities can already impose.
Vaping alternatives – such as nicotine pouches – will also be banned for children.
Prime Minister 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.
“The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.
“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.
“Alongside our commitment to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term.”
The UK Government, along with the Welsh and Scottish governments, intend to introduce legislation to ban disposable vapes but a decision is yet to be agreed upon in Northern Ireland.
The ban also aims to have a positive impact on the environment as five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, up from 1.3 million from last year.
Dr Mike McKean, vice president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), welcomed the news.
He said: “Bold action was always needed to curb youth vaping and banning disposables is a meaningful step in the right direction.
"I’m also extremely pleased to see further much-needed restrictions on flavours, packaging and marketing of vapes, which RCPCH has repeatedly called for.
“Government must swiftly lay the legislation to ensure it can be fully considered in this Parliament. We look forward to seeing more details about these landmark plans, especially in terms of implementation, enforcement and monitoring.”
Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Government plans to introduce legislation so children turning 15 in 2024 or younger can never legally be sold tobacco – to bring about the “first smokefree generation”.
Some £30 million new funding a year will be provided to bolster enforcement agencies – including Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Trading Standards – to implement these measures.
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HMRC and Border Force will also publish a new illicit tobacco strategy – Stubbing Out the Problem – on Monday.
This new strategy will be aimed at reducing the trade in illicit tobacco and tackle and disrupt organised crime behind the illicit tobacco trade.
HMRC estimates that the illicit tobacco trade costs the UK economy around £2.8 billion a year in lost revenue – money that should fund public services.
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