Under-18s are now banned from purchasing all nicotine products and vapes, as provisions in the recently-passed Tobacco and Vapes Bill come into force. The Department of Health and Social Care and a leading North East doctor believe this will better protect youngsters from respiratory illnesses, amid research showing more than 1 million children have tried vaping.
New rules extend beyond nicotine vapes
While vapes containing nicotine were already banned for under-18s, the new rules mean nicotine-free vapes and any other nicotine products are now also blocked from sale to children. This comes alongside other restrictions on the sale and promotion of such products.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found in August that "young people who vape are more likely to report cough, wheeze, bronchitis symptoms and asthma exacerbations". They are also more likely to go on to smoke cigarettes.
Health leaders welcome the move
North East campaign group Fresh welcomed the news. Its director Ailsa Rutter said: "Tobacco smoking is our single biggest preventable killer, and it is vital we encourage adults who smoke to switch completely to vaping, However, it is important the law is tightened up to reduce the appeal and the access of children to nicotine products."
Rutter added: "We support these steps to address the promotion and marketing of vapes that have made some products too appealing to children, while also preparing for the world-leading Smokefree Generation law which will make it illegal to sell lethal tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009, enable millions of children to grow up without the harm of lethal tobacco products."
Public health minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "Our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Act was the greatest piece of public health legislation in a generation. Six months to the day since the Act became law, we're extending protections for young people and stopping businesses from cashing in on our children's health."
Newcastle-based medic Dr Mike McKean, as the RCPCH's vice-president for policy, said: "Vaping is still a relatively new product, and there is much we do not yet know about its long-term impact on children and young people but a clear and concerning picture is emerging. Continued research and monitoring is essential if we are to properly understand the risks and respond to emerging evidence."
Enforcement and future measures
In England, new powers will see fixed penalty notices of £200 or fines of up to £2,500 upon conviction for retailers found to be breaching the rules. The UK's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said: "Addicting children to nicotine or encouraging them to vape could lead to the risk of serious health harms - it is completely unacceptable. These measures will help protect children from marketing of nicotine products and attempts to encourage them to vape."
The same law also introduced the rolling ban on people buying cigarettes. From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
