New Delhi: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce plans to stop selling disposable vapes, aiming at prohibiting the sale of disposable vapes to curb their accessibility to children. The government is also confirming its dedication to making a law preventing young people from buying tobacco.
The plans suggest putting restrictions on vape flavours, requiring simple packaging, and changing how vapes or e-cigarettes are shown to make them less attractive to children.
“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,” Sunak said in a statement.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in Britain, causing one in four cancer-related deaths, some 80,000 each year, according to the government. In October, Sunak announced plans to create a law preventing anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, from buying tobacco during their lifetime.
While vapes are considered essential for helping people quit smoking, there is concern that they might be contributing to nicotine addiction among young individuals, with 9%t of 11- to 15-year-olds currently using them, as reported by the government.
In December, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended banning all vape flavours. Despite this, industry groups and the UK Vaping Industry Association argue that vapes carry significantly lower health risks than tobacco, and diverse flavours play a crucial role in encouraging smokers to switch.
“I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term,” Sunak said.
“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 government claims that, in addition to health advantages, prohibiting disposable vapes would also benefit the environment by reducing the disposal of five million units per week.