The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for a government ban on flavoured and disposable vapes, warning of a growing epidemic of vaping among children in the UK. The association argues that bold action is necessary, as vaping products have no place in the lives of young people.
The BMA has highlighted concerns that children are being targeted by vaping companies through the use of vibrant colours, attractive branding, and enticing flavours like bubble gum and candy floss. These tactics, the association claims, are designed to lure young people into using products that could lead to nicotine addiction. Estimates suggest that around 8% of 11-17-year-olds in the UK are now using vapes.
‘Vaping Epidemic’
Despite it already being illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18, Prof David Strain, Chair of the BMA’s Board of Science, believes that more needs to be done to protect children. “There is no denying we are living in a vaping epidemic,” Prof Strain stated. “Vape usage has risen hugely in the last decade, with one in ten adults now vaping. However, far more worrying is the increase in young people who vape, with almost six times more 11-17-year-olds vaping now compared with 10 years ago.”
Prof Strain acknowledged the role that vapes can play in helping smokers quit but emphasised that they should not be accessible to children. “As a doctor, I understand the role vapes can play in helping people to stop smoking – but they have no rightful place in our children and young people’s lives. When it comes to protecting their health, we cannot afford to gamble,” he said.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Prof Strain explained that vapes were originally designed to assist smokers in quitting. “Well over half the adults using vapes are ex-smokers – they’ve successfully used the vape to quit,” he said. However, he expressed concern that “fancy” packaging and flavours are being marketed towards young people.
BMA’s Recommendations
The BMA is urging the government to implement the following measures:
- A ban on all vape flavours except for tobacco
- A prohibition on disposable vapes
- A ban on the use of imagery, colouring, and branding on vape packaging and devices, similar to current restrictions on cigarettes
- Vapes to be removed from shop shelves and sold only from behind the counter
Government Action
In February, the Conservative government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aimed to strike a balance between restricting access to vapes for children while maintaining availability for adults trying to quit smoking. The NHS acknowledges that while vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the long-term risks are still unknown.
After Labour took over, it announced plans to reintroduce the bill, which would also gradually increase the legal age for purchasing tobacco. A Department of Health and Social Care official stated: “The marketing of vapes to children and young people is utterly unacceptable. Vapes can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit, but we have always been clear that children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop vapes from deliberately being branded and advertised to appeal to children, including by regulating flavours, packaging and changing how and where they are displayed in shops.”
Industry Response
The UK Vaping Industry Association has acknowledged the need for stronger measures to curb youth vaping and the sale of illicit products. However, the association has warned that outright bans could “supercharge the black market” and potentially undermine the nation’s smoke-free goals by deterring adult smokers from switching to vapes and pushing current vapers towards underground sellers or back to cigarettes.
