Britain wants to ban disposable e-cigarettes

Disposable e-cigarettes should be banned in Britain to protect minors. The British government announced on Monday that the aim is to combat the rise in consumption among young people and protect the health of children. To achieve this, the choice of flavors must be limited.

Manufacturers should produce simpler and less visually appealing packaging, it was said. The so-called disposable vapes may also only be offered out of the sight of minors and away from products such as sweets that are aimed at children.

The increase in e-cigarette use among minors is one of the most worrying trends, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. “That’s why we need to take action before it becomes endemic.” The long-term effects are unknown and the nicotine it contains can be addictive.

“Vaping can therefore be a useful tool to help smokers quit. However, marketing vapes to minors is unacceptable,” Sunak said. Parliament in London still has to approve the project.

Health and environmental activists welcomed the move. An estimated five million disposable vapes are thrown away every week. Last year there were 1.3 million. Around one in ten young people in Britain aged 11 to 15 use e-cigarettes. Teachers report signs of addictive behavior in the classroom. Around 80,000 people die in Britain every year as a result of smoking.

Prime Minister Sunak had previously announced strict anti-tobacco laws. Under the plans, children and young people who turn 15 this year would never be able to legally buy a cigarette again in their lives. To this end, Sunak wants to increase the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products by one year every year.

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