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In response to the upcoming ban on single-use vapes in the UK, the head of a campaign group has cautioned that the prohibition may not deter teenagers from using e-cigarettes, as reusable models closely resemble disposables. Hazel Cheeseman, the chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), expressed concerns that the ban may not significantly impact the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people. The ban is set to take effect on Sunday in an effort to address youth vaping rates and reduce electronic waste, emphasizing the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh stated that the ban aims to minimize waste and environmental harm.
The government’s rationale for implementing the ban is to diminish the attractiveness of vapes to children. According to Ash research from last year, 11% of adults in Great Britain currently vape, amounting to 5.6 million individuals. Furthermore, a significant portion of 11 to 15-year-olds have experimented with vaping, with nearly 1 in 10 engaging in regular vaping, according to NHS data from 2024. Cheeseman commended the legislation as an initial step towards imposing stricter rules on vaping products but stressed the necessity for more robust measures to reduce the appeal of vaping to non-smoking youth. She highlighted that teenagers are drawn to vapes not due to their disposability but because of factors like vibrant colors, affordability, and accessibility, which remain unchanged despite the ban on single-use vapes.
Despite acknowledging the ban as essential regulation to alleviate the environmental impact of vaping, Cheeseman expressed reservations about its potential to influence teen uptake of vapes. Approximately five million disposable vapes were discarded weekly in 2023, posing a considerable environmental burden. With concerns raised about the effectiveness of the ban in promoting the use of reusable vapes, some individuals within the industry have questioned the ban’s impact. Kate Pike, from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, highlighted the important distinction between the cost benefit of reusing vapes and the potential issue of continuing to treat them as disposables. Additionally, John Dunne of the UK Vaping Industry Association criticized the ban as poorly considered, emphasizing that modifications permitting larger tank sizes could have been a more viable solution.
In light of the impending ban on single-use vapes, concerns have been raised about the shift towards reusable models and their potential impact on environmental sustainability. Industry experts have expressed skepticism about the ban’s ability to curtail environmental harm and have proposed alternative measures to address the issue effectively. The UK government’s decision to implement the ban aligns with its commitment to reducing waste and promoting environmental conservation, signaling a proactive stance towards sustainable vaping practices. However, the effectiveness of the ban in deterring youth vaping and curbing environmental damage remains a topic of debate among stakeholders in the vaping industry and regulatory bodies
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