The number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years, and there is strong government evidence to suggest that cheap and easy-to-use disposable vapes are partly to blame. Their research shows that in 2023, around 69 per cent of vapers aged 11 to 17 in Great Britain were using disposable vapes, up from 7.7 percent in 2021.

The government say this is extremely worrying given the unknown long-term health impacts and the addictive nature of the nicotine in vapes. They say that while vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, the NHS advises that you shouldn’t take it up if you don’t already smoke– and children should never vape.

To deter children from using vapes, the government is tightening regulations on flavours, packaging, and store displays. In England and Wales, trading standards officers will be able to issue instant fines of up to £100 for selling tobacco and vapes to minors. The sales ban is supported by nearly 70% of respondents in a public consultation on smoking and vaping, including parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals.