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A new Government crackdown on vape marketing will prevent the \u201cunacceptable\u201d targeting of children and young people, Rishi Sunak has said.<\/p>\n
Ministers have pledged to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England, amid concerns over the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes.<\/p>\n
The move comes days after the Prime Minister used an appearance on ITV\u2019s Good Morning Britain to express concern about his own daughters potentially being targeted by vape marketing.<\/p>\n
Our new illicit vape enforcement squad \u2013 backed by \u00a33 million \u2013 is on the case but clearly there is more to do<\/p>\n
Rishi Sunak<\/p>\n
The Government said that there will also be a review into banning retailers selling \u201cnicotine-free\u201d vapes to under-18s.<\/p>\n
There will also be a review of the rules on issuing fines to shops that illegally sell vapes to children, which the Government said could make it easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices.<\/p>\n
Ministers cited NHS figures from 2021 that showed that 9% of 11-15 year olds used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister said he was \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d about an increase in children vaping and was \u201cshocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur new illicit vape enforcement squad \u2013 backed by \u00a33 million \u2013 is on the case but clearly there is more to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a \u201cvery welcome step\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options.<\/p>\n
\u201cClosing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under-18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, whilst preventing the marketing and sale of vapes to children.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crackdown will also see the health risks of vaping included in Relationships, Sex and Health Education lessons, as part of the ongoing government review of the curriculum.<\/p>\n
Dedicated police school liaison officers will also work to keep illegal vapes out of schools.<\/p>\n
It follows the creation of the \u201cillicit vapes enforcement squad\u201d earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Health minister Neil O\u2019Brien called any marketing of vaping products to children \u201cshameful\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the Government would \u201creview the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage youngsters, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s \u2013 which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products\u201d.<\/p>\n
This new announcement is a baby step when we need urgent action now<\/p>\n
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting<\/p>\n
Wes Streeting, Labour\u2019s shadow health secretary, called the announcement a \u201cbaby step\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to act now to stop a new generation of kids getting hooked on nicotine,\u201d the Labour MP said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the Conservatives voted down Labour\u2019s plan to ban the marketing of vapes to children. This new announcement is a baby step when we need urgent action now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next Labour government will come down like a tonne of bricks on those pushing vapes to kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the proposals were welcome but were \u201cnot the tough action that\u2019s needed\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said the announcement needed to be followed by \u201cmore detailed action\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important immediate step the Government could take now is to put a tax on the cheap disposables which are the vape of choice for children, as well as being bad for the environment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The loophole allowing free samples to be distributed regardless of consumer age is a gap that no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting<\/p>\n
Gillian Golden, Independent British Vape Trade Association<\/p>\n
Industry figures welcomed the Government proposals.<\/p>\n
Gillian Golden, chief executive of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, said: \u201cThe loophole allowing free samples to be distributed regardless of consumer age is a gap that no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe Murillo, chief regulatory officer of Juul Labs, said: \u201cVapes have a role to play in helping adult smokers transition away from cigarettes, but more needs to be done to combat underage use of these products.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that Government, regulators, and industry can collectively take action to reduce the access and appeal of vaping to those underage, including by restricting the sale and marketing of vapes to this group.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emails A new Government crackdown on vape marketing will prevent the \u201cunacceptable\u201d targeting of children and young people, Rishi Sunak has said. Ministers have pledged to close a loophole allowing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n