Have your say! Have you had enough of disposable vapes?
The government has announced a deadline for the removal of disposable vapes from retail outlets, urging sellers to clear their stock by June 1, 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 decision is in response to growing concerns about children adopting smoking and vaping habits due to the widespread availability of single-use vapes. These products have surged in popularity over recent years, and you can see and smell them everywhere you go.
READ MORE:Have your say! Should prisoners be allowed to serve time at home?
READ MORE:Thieves caught in clampdown after rash of crime in Bath
Authorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit. The Mirror reports that there are now one million individuals in England who have taken up vaping without having previously smoked on a regular basis.
Environmental issues are also at the forefront of the government's agenda. Disposable vapes, which are difficult to recycle, are discarded in large numbers, nearly five million per week.
These devices, primarily composed of plastic and containing batteries, often end up in landfills where they can release harmful chemicals into the soil. In 2022 alone, an estimated 40 tonnes of lithium from vape batteries went to waste.
Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, intended to assist smokers in quitting, vapes are increasingly being promoted as a "lifestyle choice". They come in a vast array of flavours and eye-catching designs.
While it's against the law to sell a vape to a child, these devices are still ending up in young hands. 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.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced 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.