Displaying items by tag: youth vaping

The Government has confirmed that a ban on the sale of disposable vapes will take effect on 1 June 2025. There are growing concerns about the environmental impact and the rising number of young people becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping. Health officials report a significant increase in vape usage, with nearly five million being used and discarded every week. The ban aims to reduce waste, protect the environment, and curb the appeal of vapes to children. Health minister Andrew Gwynne said that a quarter of 11 to 15 year-olds used vapes last year, with disposable vapes being the most popular choice. The Government also plans to introduce a bill which will gradually raise the legal smoking age and implement stricter controls on the sale and marketing of vaping products. This is part of a broader effort to create a smoke-free future in the UK.

Responding to concerns over the rapid rise in youth vaping, prime minister Christopher Luxon’s government plans to ban the use of disposable e-cigarettes by minors and increase penalties for anyone selling them to under-18s. Announcing this decision, the associate health minister stressed that e-cigarettes remain ‘a key smoking cessation device’. Retailers will face fines up to 100,000 NZ dollars (£47,000) for selling vapes to minors, and individuals up to 1,000 NZD. Regulations will also prevent e-cigarettes from being sold with images or enticing names that might appeal to young people. This move follows the recent decision to repeal the world’s first smoking ban, passed by the previous government, which aimed to pave the way for a smoke-free generation, after backlash from researchers and campaigners over its risk to indigenous people.