UK govt pledges action after growth in youth vaping

The United Kingdom's Labour Party government has reaffirmed its intention to make vapes less appealing to young people after a National Health Service report said a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in England had tried vaping during 2023.

The report — titled Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England — also said one child in 10 in the 11-to-15 age group used e-cigarettes on a regular basis, prompting charities to call on the government to quickly pass the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The legislation would increase the size of fines for shopkeepers found guilty of selling vapes to under 18s and outlaw the sale of cheap, disposable vapes, increase taxes on vaping paraphernalia, and ban advertising aimed at young people.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, told the BBC: "It is vital the government brings forward the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as soon as possible, to accelerate progress toward a smoke-free generation and more effectively regulate vaping. While smoking rates have fallen dramatically among 11 to 15-year-olds over the last few decades, this data indicates progress is stalling."

The report found the 25 percent of 11 to 15-year-olds who tried vaping during 2023 was up from 22 percent in 2021.

Matt Fagg, NHS England's director for prevention and long-term conditions, said the findings were "incredibly concerning".

"It means (young people) are at risk of becoming hooked on one of the world's most addictive substances, and that is before we consider the longer-term impacts (of vaping), which are still unclear," he said.

The Guardian newspaper quoted Andrew Gwynne, the UK's health minister, as saying: "It's very worrying to see a quarter of pupils tried vaping last year. The health advice is clear, that children and adult nonsmokers should never vape, so it is unacceptable to see unscrupulous retailers marketing them at children. Through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we will stop vapes from being deliberately branded to target children, protecting future generations from becoming hooked on nicotine and ensuring the next generation grows up smoke and vape free."

Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England surveyed 13,387 students at 185 schools.

The survey found 89 percent of the 11 to 15-year-olds who tried vaping during 2023 had not previously regularly smoked tobacco.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was initially drafted by the previous government but the Labour Party, which came to power in July, has said it will resurrect the legislation, which was paused ahead of the general election.