Smart vapes equipped with age verification technology could soon prevent underage teenagers from using them, following the historic Tobacco and Vapes Act which became law today. The legislation grants the Government the authority to mandate that manufacturers incorporate age verification features into e-cigarette devices.
MPs Call for Digital Child Locks
Members of Parliament are urging ministers to utilise these new powers to compel vaping companies to implement digital child locks on devices. There are growing concerns over the impending 'gamification' of e-cigarettes, where devices include games or smart features that reward users for usage, potentially enticing younger audiences.
Age verification technology for vapes is already feasible, alongside 'geofencing' capabilities that can disable e-cigarettes in sensitive locations frequented by children, such as schools and playgrounds.
APPG Advocates for Regulation
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Responsible Vaping is calling on the Government to employ its new powers to regulate not only the sale of vapes but also the technology and software embedded within the devices themselves. APPG chair Euan Stainbank stated: 'While vapes have a place as an adult smoking cessation tool, changes that stop young people from getting their hands on vapes are crucial. I welcome the Government's new powers and urge ministers not just to regulate risks, but also to look at making positive changes extending protection from the point of sale to the point of use.'
MPs are advocating for the positive application of smart vape technology, including Bluetooth-enabled age locks, app-based verification, and 'smart' restrictions that prevent a device from functioning unless the user's age is confirmed.
Crackdown on Underage Vaping
This development follows a report that Health Secretary Wes Streeting will use the new act—expected to receive Royal Assent this week—to implement a crackdown on underage vaping. Rogue shops will face on-the-spot fines, and £30 million will be allocated to create a dedicated team of 120 vaping enforcers under Trading Standards.
Former Health Secretary Lord Andrew Lansley commented: 'The latest evidence tells us that nearly half of under-age vapers are buying them from shops, and nearly a quarter of under-age vapers receive them via proxy purchases. The Tobacco and Vapes Act provides a great opportunity for the Government to look at implementing technology that means only verified adults would be able to use vapes.'
Advertising Restrictions Ahead
From next summer, the Government will leverage new powers under the law to clamp down on advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes in shops across the country. Adverts, billboards, and sponsorship by vaping companies will be outlawed. Additionally, the Government plans a consultation on whether vapes should be sold in plain packaging and hidden from display under the counter, similar to cigarettes.
Professor Sir Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, remarked: 'Marketing vapes at children is utterly unacceptable, and this Act takes powers to restrict it.'
