From next summer, it will be illegal to sell disposable vapes in England as the government seeks to tackle environmental harm and rising usage levels among children. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it had laid legislation to ban the sale of the “extremely wasteful” products in England, with devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit. The ban will come into effect on 1 June, and businesses will have until then to sell their stock and prepare for the new law, Defra said. “The UK and devolved governments have worked closely to align coming into force dates,” it added.
Health authorities have raised concerns about the use of vapes, which have grown as smokers switch to them over traditional cigarettes. They are not regulated like tobacco and are subject to rigorous laws to protect public health. Vapes have been growing in popularity among young adults, with their colorful designs and fruity flavors making them stand out on grocery store shelves. Last year, a survey by health charity ASH found that one in five children aged 11-17 had said they had tried vaping. The figure has nearly doubled since 2014, when it was about 5.6 percent of the same age group. The organization warned that vaping among the youngest users could be an “epidemic” and potentially lead to a generation of nicotine addicts.
The government has already tightened the rules on advertising vapes, but there are fears that loopholes such as allowing stores to give away samples of the devices to children could lead to underage vaping. The prime minister has urged retailers to close the loophole and said a new crackdown on vape marketing would prevent the “unacceptable targeting of children and teenagers.”
The announcement came as Mr Streeting promised to enact a stricter bill than that the previous Conservative government tabled to bolster efforts to make Britain smoke-free by 2030. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will raise the legal age at which people can buy tobacco to 21. It will also impose restrictions on the advertising of vaping and e-cigarettes to help smokers quit. It is expected to be introduced to Parliament before Christmas. The government also has a separate bill that will prevent people born after January 2009 from buying cigarettes and plans to increase the minimum age at which it is legal to smoke in restaurants and other public places.
