Young people vaping

The number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years, with strong evidence to suggest that cheap and easy-to-use disposable vapes are partly to blame. This is extremely worrying given the unknown long-term health impacts and the addictive nature of the nicotine in vapes.

The government has announced that the sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned in England, Scotland and Wales as soon as possible. In addition, to make vapes less attractive to children, regulation of vape flavours, packaging and how they are displayed in shops will be strengthened, with trading standards officers having the power to issue an ‘on the spot’ fine for the sale of tobacco and vapes to children in England and Wales.

The ban is being introduced after a public consultation on smoking and vaping showed nearly 70 percent of respondents including parents, teachers and healthcare professionals were in favour of the measure. Adults will still have access to non-disposable vapes to help them to stop smoking.

Any legislation will allow for a buffer period of at least 6 months, to allow businesses to adapt. It will also soon be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Schools are legally required to have a behaviour policy that sets out what is expected of pupils, including what items are banned from school premises. Some schools have already banned vapes.

In Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), pupils in primary and secondary school are taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and their risks, including smoking, alcohol and drugs.

The RSHE curriculum is currently being reviewed to look at strengthening content around smoking and vaping, with a public consultation on a revised version soon.