Nearly one in five British children aged 11-17 have tried vaping, the campaign group Stamp Out Vapes warns. Campaigners say that vaping is now “completely normal among British teens” with more than eight out of 10 teachers reporting daily incidents of vape use in school toilets.
Concerns over illegal and counterfeit products
There is concern that “illegal and counterfeit products are sold openly to children in every part of this country” and those responsible face “little meaningful consequence when they are caught”. There is also worry that “dodgy shops” targeted over illegal tobacco or vapes often remain open after enforcement action.
The campaigners fear that “unregulated chemical mixtures, often laced with illegal drugs, are being breathed in by children”. Illegal vapes are described as the “most dependable cash generators organised crime has ever seen, laundering the proceeds of drug supply, exploitation and human trafficking through our town centres”.
Calls for stricter regulation
Dr Ahmed Ezzat, founder of Stamp Out Vapes, said: “The illegal products reaching [young people] have passed zero safety checks, and they are sold by shops with no licence and no accountability. This is a safeguarding failure, an enforcement failure, and a gift to organised crime. Products are being sold to eleven-year-olds whose harms will not fully surface for a decade.
He added: “Through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill ministers have the power to license retailers and require product registration. These are the two measures that would do the most to separate legitimate sellers from criminal ones. However, ministers are yet to go far enough and fast enough. They must act now.”
Stamp Out Vapes wants the rigorous product testing and “higher costs and standards” so vapes are not a “low-cost, low-risk income stream for organised crime”.
Government response
A Government spokesperson said: “[We have] taken decisive action to prevent children from vaping, including making it illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, abolishing single-use vapes, and banning advertising and sponsorship by vape companies from next year. Because of the impact on business, we are obliged to consult in detail on our proposed new retail licensing scheme, and our new restrictions on the packaging, appearance, flavours and displays of vapes, but no-one should doubt our commitment to take the action required to protect children from nicotine addiction.”
