The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the UK government to ban flavoured and disposable vapes, warning that the country is facing a growing epidemic of vaping among children.
Doctors have called for swift and bold action to protect young people from nicotine addiction and the influence of aggressive marketing strategies that target minors.
The BMA emphasized that vapes have no rightful place in the lives of children and young people.
The association pointed out that children are being lured into vaping through the use of bright colours, appealing branding, and flavours like bubble gum and candy floss, all of which make these products more attractive to underage users.
According to estimates, approximately 8% of children aged 11 to 17 in the UK are vaping, raising concerns about the long-term impact on their health.
Although it is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18, the BMA argues that existing measures are not sufficient to protect children from exposure to vaping.
“A Vaping Epidemic”
Dr. David Strain, chair of the BMA’s Board of Science, described the situation as a “vaping epidemic,” highlighting the significant rise in usage over the past decade. “There is no denying we are living in a vaping epidemic,” Dr. Strain stated.
“Vape usage has risen hugely in the last decade, with one in 10 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.”
Dr. Strain acknowledged the potential role vapes can play in helping adult smokers quit, but he stressed that these products should not be available 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, and when it comes to protecting their health, we cannot afford to gamble,” he said.
The BMA’s Demands
The BMA has proposed several measures aimed at curbing youth vaping, including:
- A ban on all vape flavours other than tobacco.
- The prohibition of disposable vapes.
- Restrictions on imagery, colouring, and branding for both vape packaging and devices, similar to the regulations currently in place for cigarettes.
- Moving vapes off shop shelves and requiring them to be kept behind the counter for sale instead.
These proposed changes are part of a broader effort to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping. The BMA believes that these measures, if implemented, would significantly reduce the appeal of vapes to young people and limit their accessibility.
Government Response
In response to growing concerns over youth vaping, the UK government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in February.
The bill was designed to strike a balance between restricting access to vapes for children while ensuring that adult smokers could still use them as a tool to quit smoking.
Vaping is widely regarded as substantially less harmful than smoking, but the NHS has cautioned that the long-term risks of vaping are still unknown.
When the Labour government took over, it announced plans to reintroduce the bill. The proposed legislation includes measures such as plainer packaging and the regulation of flavours marketed towards children.
Additionally, the bill would gradually raise the age at which individuals can purchase tobacco products.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care condemned the marketing of vapes to children, stating, “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 spokesperson also confirmed that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would address the issue by regulating vape flavours, packaging, and how vapes are displayed in shops.
Industry Concerns
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) expressed support for stronger measures to curb youth vaping and the sale of illicit products.
However, the association warned that bans on flavours and disposable vapes could inadvertently fuel the black market, potentially making it harder for adult smokers to quit and pushing current vapers toward underground sellers or back to cigarettes.
UKVIA emphasized that any regulations should be carefully considered to avoid unintended consequences that could undermine public health efforts.
As the debate over vaping regulations continues, the BMA and public health advocates are urging the government to prioritize the protection of children and young people in their upcoming legislative efforts.
