Free vapes for children to be banned

Rishi Sunak has announced a ban on rogue firms who target children with colourful free samples of vapes.

It comes after recent NHS figures showed that nine per cent of 11 to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes in 2021 - up from six per cent in 2018.

Selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, but a loophole exists allowing unscrupulous businesses to give out free samples of vaping products.

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, said that while vaping could help adult smokers to quit, it was important to ensure non-smokers are not encouraged to start.

The Prime Minister also announced a review into banning retailers selling “nicotine-free” vapes to under-18s. This will ensure the rules keep up with the way that vaping products are being used.

'Completely unacceptable'

Mr Sunak said a surge in the use and promotion of cheap, colourful products shows that some unscrupulous businesses are targeting children.

“I am deeply concerned about the sharp rise in kids vaping and shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children,” he said.

“Our new illicit vape enforcement squad – backed by £3 million – is on the case, but clearly there is more to do. That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.

“The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good.”

Prof Whitty said: “Whilst vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping. There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options.

“Closing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under 18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry.

“We should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, whilst preventing the marketing and sale of vapes to children.”

Fines

There will also be a review into the rules on issuing fines to shops selling vapes to under 18s illegally to allow local trading standards officers to issue on the spot fines and fixed penalty notices more easily.

This will aim to complement existing fine and penalty procedures, and where possible cover both illegal and underage sales for vapes and tobacco.

Neil O’Brien, the Health Minister, said: “The shameful marketing of vaping products to children is leading to growing numbers trying e-cigarettes. Today we are therefore ramping up our efforts to stop kids getting hooked on vaping, including taking steps to crack down on companies handing out free vape samples to under 18s and adding lessons on the health risks of vaping within the curriculum for the first time.

“We will also review the rules on issuing on the spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage children, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under 18s – which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products. Alongside this our new specialised ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ will also clamp down on online shops selling illicit vapes to under 18s.

“This builds on action announced last month to protect our children’s health and tackle underage vaping, whilst exploiting the potential of vaping to help adult smokers quit.”

In a recent Action on Smoking and Health Smokefree GB Youth Survey 2023 of 11 to 17-year-olds, two out of five young people said they smoke vapes “just to give it a try” and about one in five because “other people use them so I join in”.

The health risks of vaping will be also included in Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons, as part of the Government’s ongoing review of RSHE, in order to further discourage children from taking up vaping.