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Disposable vapes to be banned
The government has announced that disposable vapes are to be banned as part of plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping and protect children's health.
Recent figures show the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled and 9 per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds are now using vapes.
The proportion of 11 to 17-year-old vapers using disposable vapes has increased almost ninefold in the last two years.
As part of the plans, new powers will be introduced to restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children and manufacturers will have to produce plainer, less visually appealing packaging.
Fines will be brought in for shops in England and Wales which illegally sell vapes to children. Vaping alternatives like nicotine pouches will also be banned for children.
The prime minister said: "As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic.
"The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.
"As Prime Minister I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term. That is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes – which have driven the rise in youth vaping – and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.
"Alongside our commitment to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term."
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: "Smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England. Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital with a smoking-related disease. And its costs society £17 billion each year – putting a huge burden on our NHS.
"That’s why we are driving the way forward through our smokefree generation plan, which will prevent our children from starting this dangerous habit.
"The health advice is clear, vapes should only ever be used as a tool to quit smoking. But we are committed to doing more to protect our children from illicit underage vaping, and by banning disposable vapes we’re preventing children from becoming hooked for life."
Responding to the Government's announcement of a ban on single-use vapes, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board said:
“We’re delighted that the Government has listened to the longstanding concerns of the LGA and councils and are taking decisive action to ban single-use vapes.
“Disposable vapes are inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban remains the most effective solution to this problem.
“Single use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, and are expensive and difficult to deal with in our recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children and are a risk to the health of young people.
“We look forward to working with the Government and others to enforce this ban as well as ensure plans for a smokefree generation are a success.”
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