What is the disposable vape Ban and how dangerous is vaping?

(CTN News) – A ban on disposable vapes has been declared across the UK as part of efforts to reduce the number of children who vape.

According to the authorities, other measures, such as plainer vape packaging, will assist focus sales to children.

Is vaping dangerous?

Vaping is not nearly as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.

However, health experts believe that everyone who does not smoke should avoid vaping, especially minors.

Doctors warn that vaping can harm children’s lungs, hearts, and brains over time.

The vapour exhaled contains trace amounts of chemicals, notably the addictive stimulant nicotine.

More research is needed to determine exactly what the health implications are.

Another issue is the widespread availability of illegal vaping products. These are more likely to include dangerous chemicals or narcotics, including cannabis.

Campaigners further argue that disposable vapes are wasteful and that the materials and chemicals used to manufacture them, including lithium batteries, make them impossible to dispose of responsibly.

They can be recycled, but only about 17% of vapers do. Five million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the United Kingdom.

When will disposable vapes be banned?

Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, expressed confidence that Parliament will pass the revised bill before the upcoming general election on January 28, 2025.

The ban would go into effect in early 2025.

Once the timing is determined, shops will have six months to implement the changes.

The government also intends to prohibit the marketing of all other vapes to youngsters by:

Reducing the usage of tastes that appeal to children.
Introducing plain packaging.
Changing how vapes are exhibited in stores, from on the counter to behind it

It is already illegal to offer vapes to people under the age of 18, but the government intends to boost sanctions for merchants who do so.

How many kids vape?

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) conducted an online study of 2,000 children and found that nearly 8% of 11-17-year-olds vape. That’s an increase from 4% in 2020.

It stated that 20% have tried vaping, with inexpensive, brightly coloured disposable vapes driving the growth from 14% three years earlier.

Older teenagers are more likely to have tried or are now vaping.

Children are now twice as likely to vape as to smoke.

What are the vaping regulations in other countries?

Many countries have seen an increase in vaping among children and young people.

The US has outlawed some vape tastes, including mint and fruit, specifically for e-cigarettes.

The prohibition includes goods from Juul, a well-known vaping company.

Australia has made e-cigarettes only available with a prescription for smokers looking to quit tobacco.

Last year, New Zealand implemented new guidelines banning disposable vapes and focusing on tastes appealing to youngsters.

Many other countries, like South Korea, India, and Brazil, have declared strict vaping regulations. Others, including China, have announced limits.

The World Health Organisation reports that 88 countries have no minimum age for purchasing vapes and 74 have no rules governing e-cigarettes.

Why is vaping beneficial to smokers?

Cigarettes include tobacco, tar, and harmful compounds that cause cancer. They are the leading preventable cause of sickness and death in the UK.

About half of all lifelong smokers will die prematurely, losing an average of 10 years of life.

Nicotine vapes are the most effective aid for quitting smoking, outperforming patches and gum.

Research indicates that utilising vapes with face-to-face support can increase the likelihood of quitting smoking by up to double compared to other ways.

However, vaping is not fully risk-free thus it is only recommended for adult smokers.

The NHS provides free vape kits to assist them quit as part of its “swap to stop” scheme.

A ban on disposable vapes might affect almost two million smokers and ex-smokers, according to UCL research.

Thousands of people have quit smoking by vaping as an alternative.

In the UK, smoking rates are at an all-time low of 13%.