UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a ban on the sale of disposable vapes, targeting their use by children. This announcement will reinforce the government’s plan to introduce legislation preventing tobacco sales to future generations. The new regulations will include limiting vape flavours, mandating plain packaging, and altering the display of e-cigarettes to make them less appealing to young audiences.
Sunak emphasized the long-term health protection of children as a key motive for these changes. He stated, “These changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term.”
Tackling Smoking and Vaping Among Youth
Smoking is the UK’s leading preventable cause of death, responsible for a quarter of cancer-related deaths annually. Sunak’s previous announcement in October proposed a law to prohibit tobacco sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. This measure aims to reduce the lifetime accessibility of tobacco.
The government is concerned about vaping leading to nicotine addiction in young people, with 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds currently using vapes. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports banning all vape flavours.
Industry groups and the UK Vaping Industry Association counter that vapes are less harmful than tobacco and that flavours are essential for smokers switching to vapes. Sunak stressed his responsibility to act in the country’s long-term interest, including banning disposable vapes and introducing further vape restrictions.
