UK government lead by Rishi Sunak will outlaw disposable vapes in order to limit juvenile usage

The government’s desire to enact legislation prohibiting younger people from purchasing tobacco products will be reaffirmed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who will reveal plans on Monday to outlaw the sale of disposable vaporizers in order to prevent minors from using them.

The proposed regulations would limit the flavors that might be added to vapes, mandate plain packaging, and alter how e-cigarettes are shown to make them less appealing to kids.

“Alongside our commitment to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting our children’s health for the long term,” Sunak said in a statement.

According to the government, smoking is the leading avoidable cause of cancer-related fatalities in Britain, accounting for around 80,000 deaths annually. Sunak said in October that he intended to enact legislation prohibiting tobacco purchases for everyone born on or after January 1, 2009, for the duration of their lives.

Although vapes are seen to be essential for helping individuals stop smoking, there has been worry that they may be contributing to youth nicotine addiction, since 9 percent of 11 to 15-year-olds use them now, according to the government.

In December, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that all flavors of vape pens need to be outlawed.

Industry associations including the UK Vaping Industry Association, however, contend that flavors were a major factor in getting smokers to transition to vaping and that devices provide much less health concerns than tobacco.

“I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term,” Sunak said.

“That is why 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 flavors, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops.”

The government claims that prohibiting disposable vapes will improve the environment in addition to health, since five million of them are thrown away every day.