Britain will ban the sale of single-use e-cigarettes from next year, a minister announced today, in an effort to curb their environmental impact and underage use.
The country's health authorities have highlighted the danger posed by single-use e-cigarettes among young adults to whom they appeal thanks to their colorful designs and fruity flavours, which make them stand out on store shelves. According to charity ASH's 2024 survey, around one in five children aged 11 to 17 say they have tried this cigarette.
It is illegal in the country to sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine to people under the age of 18, and adults are also prohibited from buying them on behalf of people under the age of 18. The plan to ban single-use e-cigarettes was originally put forward by the previous Tory government in January, but was not implemented before the July election, which Labor won.
Labour's culture minister has announced that the number of children vaping has tripled in the last three years and single-use e-cigarettes are causing many problems for the environment.
"We are increasingly worried. We hope this will help break the cycle where children pick up this vaping habit at an earlier and younger age," Lisa Nandy told Sky News. The government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for details on the measure.
The country's media reported that the ban is set to take effect in June. Another ASH study this year reported that this year disposable e-cigarettes were the most popular way to quit smoking among smokers with almost three million people in Britain having quit using disposable e-cigarettes in the past five years.
