UK vaping laws to change this year - with announcement next week

Disposable vapes will be BANNED in a crackdown to protect children and MPs preparing to unveil new restrictions next week to clamp down on the devices.

Vaping laws will now change as early as THIS year, according to reports. Disposable vapes will be BANNED in a crackdown to protect children and MPs preparing to unveil new restrictions next week to clamp down on the devices.

It will include an outright ban on disposables, according to reports. Rules are also set to limit the flavours that are allowed, increase tax paid on them and more tightly control advertising, according to The Telegraph newspaper.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in May: “Vaping should be promoted for those adults who currently smoke because it’s a much less riskier activity than smoking nicotine based cigarettes. They shouldn’t be deliberately targeting children – that’s illegal.”

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Marcus Saxton, chair of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, said: “Children and those who have not smoked should not be using vapes but bans on single-use vapes and flavours will make it harder for smokers to quit.

“Research by Cancer Research UK and University College London shows the critical role that single-use vapes are playing in helping the 6.4million smokers in the UK to quit. Bans do not work.” A Department of Health spokesperson said: “The health advice on vaping is clear: vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, but if you don’t smoke, don’t vape – and children should never vape.

“We have consulted on measures to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children. We will set out further details in due course.” A ban on disposable vapes could discourage the use of e-cigarettes among people who are trying to quit smoking, research has found.

A study by academics at University College London and funded by Cancer Research UK has found it would also affect 2.6 million adults across Great Britain, 1.2 million of whom smoke and a further 744,000 who have previously.