Have your say! Should disposable vapes be banned?
The government has announced a date for the removal of disposable vapes from shopfronts, with retailers being urged to clear their inventory by 1 June 2025.
Have your say! Did you or someone you know get good use out of disposable vapes? How much do you see them as litter in your area? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
This step is in response to escalating concerns regarding children adopting smoking and vaping behaviours due to the easy accessibility of single-use vapes. These products have surged in popularity over recent years, becoming a common sight and smell in public.
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Authorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are expected to implement comparable rulings. A report by the Mirror suggests that there's an estimated one million individuals in England who have taken up vaping without ever having smoked regularly before.
Additionally, the government harbours worries about the environmental impact of these disposable devices. Reports indicate that roughly five million vapes are discarded weekly as waste or litter, each being a plastic casing with a battery.
Recycling disposable vapes poses a considerable challenge with the majority likely to end up in landfills, potentially releasing harmful chemicals into the ground. Around 40 tonnes of lithium from the batteries used in these devices was reportedly wasted in 2022.
Initially marketed as a less harmful substitute to tobacco, facilitating smokers to quit the addiction with minimal damage, vapes are increasingly promoted as part of a "lifestyle choice", offering an extensive selection of flavours and eye-catching designs.
Despite it being illegal to sell a vape to a minor, these devices are still ending up in the hands of youngsters. Health Minister Andrew Gwynne expressed his concern, stating: "It's deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today."
The prohibition, along with other initiatives limiting the promotion of vapes and other nicotine products, form part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This Bill was drafted by the previous Conservative government but was put on hold due to the election.
However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the remainder of the Bill will be introduced before Christmas.
The Bill also proposes a change in the age limit for purchasing cigarettes and tobacco products. The new rules will affect anyone born after January 1 2009, as part of efforts to create a "smoke-free Britain".
Have your say! Did you or someone you know get good use out of disposable vapes? How much do you see them as litter in your area? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.