The UK government will ban single-use vapes to prevent children from using them

LONDON:

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce plans on Monday to ban the sale of single-use vapes to prevent children from using them and reiterate the government’s intention to introduce a law to prevent younger generations from buying tobacco.

Under the new powers, there will be restrictions on vape flavours, a requirement for plain packaging and changes to the way vapes or e-cigarettes are displayed to make them less appealing to children.

“Along with our commitment to prevent children who turn 15 this year or younger from being legally sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term,” Sunak said in a statement.

Smoking is Britain’s biggest preventable killer, causing one in four cancer-related deaths, or around 80,000 a year, the government says. In October, Sunak announced designs to pass a law that would mean that anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, would not be able to buy tobacco in their lifetime.

Reading: Electronic cigarettes : New addiction of choice for youth

While vapes are seen as key to helping people quit smoking, there has been concern they could lead to nicotine addiction among young people, with 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds now using them, the government said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) he said in december all vape flavors should be banned.

However, industry groups and the UK Vaping Industry Association argue that vaping poses significantly lower health risks than tobacco and that flavors have been key in encouraging smokers to switch.

“I have an obligation to do what I believe is the right thing for our country in the long run,” Sunak said.

“That’s why I’m taking bold action to ban single-use vapes – which have fueled the rise of youth vaping – and will push for new powers to limit vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how they appear the vapors in the shops”.

The government says that along with the health benefits, a ban on single-use vapes would help the environment, with five million thrown away every week.