Ministers vow to take action on disposable vapes

AIM IS TO LESSEN THEIR APPEAL TO UNDER-18'S

THE Government is setting out plans for how it intends to “restrict” disposable vapes so they are no longer targeted at children.

A consultation document published yesterday is seeking views on how vapes can be used by smokers wanting to quit, but at the same time lessen their appeal to under-18s.

Among the proposals are restricting their sale in shops, clamping down on sweet flavours and bright packaging, and looking at whether increasing the price of vapes could cut their appeal to youngsters.

Some experts, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, have called for an outright ban on disposable vapes after data published in May showed a 50% rise in the last year in the proportion of children trying vaping.

Figures show that disposable vapes are the e-cigarette of choice among youngsters, while purchases of vapes are mostly made from corner shops.