Health Secretary Steve Barclay vows to stop vapes 'looking like sweets' and says habit is 'wrong for kids'
Daily MailSEP 22 2023
UK Government to Ban Disposable Vapes
Image copyright: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The UK government announced a plan on Sunday to ban the sale of disposable vapes as part of an effort to tackle the rise in young people vaping.
While it's already illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of eighteen, according to the UK government disposable vapes, which are often much cheaper and come in smaller more colorful packaging, are a "key driver behind the alarming rise in youth vaping."
Under the plan, vape flavors would be restricted and packaging and displays would be required to be changed to make them less desirable to children. Also on Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated his government's commitment to gradually phase out the sale of tobacco by making sure children who turn 15 this year and younger, are never legally able to purchase tobacco products.
The Spin
Narrative A
Vaping is addictive and causes people to inhale harmful chemicals whose long-term impacts have not been fully studied. This law is a step in the right direction toward preventing children from vaping.
Narrative B
It's reasonable of course to restrict access to vaping products for children. That said, it's important to be wary of alarmist state overreach — like installing anti-vape sensors and close-circuit televisions in schools that bring up serious privacy concerns.