The United Kingdom is set to ban disposable e-cigarettes to tackle a rise in youth vaping.
The ban, which is aimed at slashing the uptake of vaping among teenagers, is expected to be enacted later this year with retailers given a six-month implementation period.
E-cigarettes generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders
The World Health Organisation had two weeks ago lamented the alarming increase in use of e-cigarettes among children and young people, with rates exceeding adult use in many countries.
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic.
“I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes -– which have driven the rise in youth vaping –- and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.”
The government cited recent figures showing the proportion of vapers under the age of 18 who use disposables has increased almost ninefold in the last two years.
one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children
Experts say e-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and are harmful to health.
According to the World Health Organisation, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products.
“E-cigarettes target children through social media and influencers, with at least 16,000 attractive flavours. Some of these products use cartoon characters and have sleek designs, which appeal to the younger generation. Some look like toys and games,” WHO said.
It noted that even brief exposure to e-cigarette content on social media is associated with greater intention to use these products, as well as more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes.
e-cigarettes can affect brain development and lead to learning disorders for young people
The global health body said urgent action is needed to control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as non-smokers and minimise health harms to the population.
The body said e-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects.
“Kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I urge countries to implement strict measures to prevent uptake to protect their citizens, especially their children and young people.”
The organisation noted that whilst long-term health effects are not fully understood, it has been established that they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.
“Use of e-cigarettes can also affect brain development and lead to learning disorders for young people. Fetal exposure to e-cigarettes can adversely affect the development of the fetus in pregnant women. Exposure to emissions from e-cigarettes also poses risks to bystanders,” it added.
