Government Unleashes Plan to Stamp Out Underage Vaping Epidemic

By Lucia Paula , Parent Herald May 30, 08:15 am

Photo: (Photo : SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK government is set to crack down on the marketing of vaping products to children and teenagers by closing a loophole that allows retailers to give free vape samples to minors. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the plans, stating that the targeting of children and teens through vape marketing is "unacceptable." The government will also evaluate the rules governing the sale of "nicotine-free" products to people under the age of 18.

While this was going on, the Labour Party condemned the proclamation, calling it a "baby step" and pushing for quicker action. A recent BBC investigation found that illegal vapes found on students had considerably higher levels of lead, nickel, and chromium than were deemed safe. These findings shocked Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, and sparked a heated discussion over how to handle the problem of youth vaping.

Government's Crackdown on Vape Marketing and Sales to Minors

As part of the government's plans, fines for shops selling illicit vapes will be reviewed. By strengthening the law, local trading standards officials will have the ability to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to shops that sell vapes to underage individuals. While the sale of vapes to those under 18 is already illegal, nicotine-free products can still be sold.

The UK Vaping Industry Association has welcomed the government's plans, as they have been advocating for stricter regulations for over a year. The association's director general, John Dunne, stressed the significance of making it economically disastrous for dishonest vendors to offer vapes to youngsters. A YouGov survey for Action on Smoking and Health in March and April found that experimental vaping among 11- to 17-year-olds increased from 7.7% in 2021 to 11.6% in 2022. Teenagers prefer the colorful disposable vaporizers, which come in a variety of flavors and are frequently bought from corner stores.

According to CNN, teachers and parents have expressed concern about the availability of vaping devices and claims of student addiction to nicotine. Only the sale of nicotine products to anyone under the age of 18 is forbidden by the law as it stands. Although it is now illegal to give out nicotine goods like vapes to minors, this leaves a gap that some dishonest sellers take advantage of.

Closing the Loophole: Strengthening Regulations to Protect Children

According to data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in the last year, almost 20,000 kids in the UK were given free vapes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson committed to stopping the marketing and illicit sales of vapes to minors and voiced his serious worry over the growth in child vaping. Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty praised the government's decision to close the loophole, acknowledging that vaping can be a good alternative for adult smokers. However, he raised concerns about companies marketing these products to children. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, highlighted the need to understand the long-term risks of vaping for young people.

In addition to closing the loophole, the government plans to incorporate lessons on the health risks of vaping into relationships, sex, and health education classes. An educational resource pack on vaping for children aged 11-13 is being developed and will be made available online in July.

While campaigners argue for bolder approaches, including taxation to make vaping less affordable, the government's actions have been deemed necessary by the Chartered Trading Institute, which oversees trading standards in the UK. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), welcomed the government's measures but called for a minimum price of £5 to deter young buyers.