The UK government has announced an initiative to ban disposable vaping devices in response to the growing concern about the increasing number of young people who are vaping. This decision is part of a broader strategy to address issues related to vaping among the youth.

One of the key elements of this plan is to curb the marketing of vaping products to children and to intensify efforts to prevent underage sales of such products. Although the sale of any vaping device to individuals under 18 is already illegal, the government points out that disposable vapes, often more attractively packaged than their refillable counterparts, play a significant role in the surge of vaping among young people.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated that the proposed measures are intended to balance the need to restrict youth access to vaping products while ensuring that adult smokers who are trying to quit have access to vaping as an alternative. He emphasised the importance of taking decisive action to protect children from vaping, citing the lack of comprehensive data on the long-term health effects of vaping.

Recent statistics from the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) charity show a concerning trend. The percentage of 11 to 17-year-olds who vape, either regularly or occasionally, has risen from 4.1% in 2020 to 7.6% present day. In light of these figures, the Prime Minister underlined the necessity of strong measures to curtail vaping among children. While acknowledging that vaping is significantly less harmful than traditional smoking, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) notes that the long-term risks of vaping are still not fully understood due to its relatively recent emergence.