Disposable vapes to be banned to protect children's health

Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK as part of government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping and protect children’s health, the Prime Minister has announced today (29 January).

The government says disposable vapes have been a “key driver” behind the rise in youth vaping, with the proportion of 11- to 17-year-old vapers using disposables, increasing almost ninefold in the last two years.

New powers will be introduced to restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children and ensure that manufacturers produce plainer, less visually appealing packaging.

The powers will also allow government to change how vapes are displayed in shops, moving them out of sight of children and away from products that appeal to them, like sweets.

To crack down on underage sales, the government will also bring in new fines for shops in England and Wales which sell vapes illegally to children.

Trading standards officers will be able to act ‘on the spot’ to tackle underage tobacco and vape sales. This builds on a maximum £2,500 fine that local authorities can already impose. 

Vaping alternatives - such as nicotine pouches - will also be outlawed for children who are increasingly turning to these highly addictive substitutes. 

Recent figures show the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled. Use among younger children is also rising, with 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds now using vapes.

The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive, with withdrawal sometimes causing anxiety, trouble concentrating and headaches.

While vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, children should never vape. 

The 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.

“There was overwhelming support among responses to the government’s consultation for a disposable vape ban, with nearly 70% of parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and the general public supportive of the measure.  

“The government has a duty to protect children’s health, which is why it is taking bold and decisive action on smoking and vaping. This is the responsible thing to do to protect children for generations to come.”  

Responding to the Government's announcement of a ban on single-use vapes, Councillor David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board said: “We’re delighted that the government has listened to the longstanding concerns of the LGA and councils and are taking decisive action to ban single-use vapes.  

“Disposable vapes are inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban remains the most effective solution to this problem. 

“Single-use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, and are expensive and difficult to deal with in our recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children and are a risk to the health of young people.  

“We look forward to working with the government and others to enforce this ban as well as ensure plans for a smoke-free generation are a success.”