The government yesterday launched a public consultation on smoking that includes measures to clamp down on vapes being promoted and sold to children.
Last week, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to introduce a new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes. He also set out the government’s concerns about the rise in vaping among children, with youth vaping tripling in the last three years and 1 in 5 children having now used a vape.
Proposals being consulted on include:
- Making it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products.
- Restricting the flavours and descriptions of vapes so that vape flavours are no longer targeted at children.
- Regulating point-of-sale displays in retail outlets so that vapes are kept out of sight from children and away from products that appeal to them, such as sweets.
- Regulating vape packaging and product presentation, ensuring that neither the device nor its packaging is targeted to children.
- Considering restricting the sale of disposable vapes, which are linked to the rise in vaping in children.
- Exploring further restrictions for non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine consumer products such as nicotine pouches.
- Exploring whether increasing the price of vapes will reduce the number of young people using them.
- Introducing new powers for local authorities to issue on-the-spot fines (fixed penalty notices) to enforce age of sale legislation of tobacco products and vapes.
Views on the proposals are now being sought from everyone, including the public, the retail sector, clinicians and medical professionals, public health stakeholders, academic experts, employers and trade unions.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “There has been a surge in vaping among children, which is why we’re taking action to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes. Vapes should never be used by children, and we’re committed to reversing this trend.
“We also need to take bold action to protect future generations from the harms of smoking addiction, which damages health at every stage of life and costs the economy billions.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH, added: “Groundbreaking legislation to protect the next generation from smoking and vaping is needed, wanted and workable.
“This consultation will ensure all voices are heard, and the balance is struck between protecting children while still helping adult smokers quit. However, consultation must be followed rapidly by legislation to be passed in this Parliamentary session.”
The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) stated that it backs the government’s proposals to tighten up on vape sales to young people but warned against an outright ban on disposable vapes.
The Fed’s national president Muntazir Dipoti said: “While we agree with plans to prevent children and young people being attracted to vapes, this must not be at the expense of adults who have switched to these products in a bid to give up smoking.
“We also want more clarity on what any ‘restrictions’ on disposable vapes would entail. An outright ban on these products would simply create a black market and fuel illicit sales by criminals and unscrupulous traders.”
NAM Implications:
- Anticipate tougher access restrictions by age.
- But also reduction/elimination of flavoured vapes to reduce some of the appeal to children.
- The flavour issue will figure big in the final legislation…
