The UK government has thrown its weight behind a comprehensive ban on disposable vapes under ongoing efforts to tackle the rise in youth vaping.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the plans during a school visit on Monday, which form part of the government's broader strategy to create the first "smokefree generation".
According to quoted data, underage vaping has tripled over the past three years, with figures indicating that 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds are now using vapes.
The government's response follows a consultation on smoking and vaping initiated last October.
New powers will restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and alter the way vapes are displayed in shops, reducing their appeal to children.
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.”
Backing this initiative, Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins added: “The health advice is clear, vapes should only ever be used as a tool to quit smoking. But we are committed to doing more to protect our children from illicit underage vaping, and by banning disposable vapes we’re preventing children from becoming hooked for life."
The environmental impact of disposable vapes is a major concern, noted Environment Secretary Steve Barclay: “Not only are disposable vapes often targeted, unacceptably, at children – they also represent a huge and growing stream of hard-to-recycle waste, with nearly five million thrown away every week.
“This historic announcement will be a powerful tool in support of our efforts to crack down on waste and boost recycling, as well as helping to create the first smokefree generation."
Support from various stakeholders, including Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, and Dr Mike McKean from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), was also published.
In response to today’s announcement, Chill ZERO vape distributor Chill Brands Group PLC (LSE:CHLL, OTCQB:CHBRF) shared research conducted by the University College London (UCL) and funded by Cancer Research UK which showed that a ban on disposable vapes would “adversely affect millions of UK adults”.
“This study adds to a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates the important role played by disposable vapes as a smoking cessation tool,” Chill Brands wrote in a statement.
Shares in Supreme PLC (AIM:SUP), a primary distributor of the popular ElfBar vapes, fell 11% in early exchanges.
Proactive has approached Supreme for a comment.