UK To Crack Down On Illegal Sale Of Vapes To Minors

The UK government is set to announce a series of measures aimed at cracking down on the illegal sale of vapes to under-18s. The measures, which Health Minister Neil O’Brien will announce in a speech at Policy Exchange on April 11, will include the establishment of a new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ backed by £3 million in government funding.

The enforcement squad, which Trading Standards will lead, will work across the country to share knowledge and intelligence on the sale of vapes to minors. It will undertake specific projects, such as test purchasing in convenience stores and vape shops, to identify those who are breaking the law. The squad will also have the power to remove illegal products from shops and borders.

The government is concerned about the increasing use of disposable vaping products by young people and will be launching a Call for Evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes. The Call for Evidence will explore issues such as the marketing and promotion of vapes and the environmental impact of disposable products.

While vaping is seen as a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, the government is determined to tackle the rising levels of youth vaping. Health Minister Neil O’Brien said: “Smoking kills, so our priority is to prevent people smoking, and support them to quit. We remain committed to our ambition to be smoke-free by 2030. However, while vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, we are concerned about the rise in youth vaping, particularly the increasing use of disposable vaping products.”

The UK has made significant progress in reducing smoking prevalence in recent years, with the lowest rates of smoking on record. This has been achieved through measures such as doubling duty on cigarettes since 2010 and continued funding to local stop-smoking services. The government says it remains committed to becoming smoke-free by 2030, and the new measures to combat youth vaping are an important step towards achieving its goal.