Targeting vaping at children through coloured and flavoured products is “totally unacceptable” say Derby and Derbyshire’s public health directors.
This comes after nine Cheshire and Merseyside public health directors along with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called for a UK ban on disposable vapes.
Concerns have been raised at the rise in vaping by teenagers and children, despite the sale of vapes or e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 already being illegal.
A particular source of criticism is the way in which vaping, including cheaper disposable single-use products, appear to be marketed towards a younger audience, through colourful designs and a wide range of flavours – including sweet and fruit options.
Disposable single-use vapes can be bought for a few pounds each, with hundreds of “puffs” per product, including online where no form of age verification is requested, with criticism also raised over the amount of plastic waste created.
Ellie Houlston, Derbyshire County Council’s director of public health, said: “I share the concerns around the marketing of disposable vapes to children and young people.
“The sale of vapes to under-18s is illegal and yet coloured and flavoured vapes are clearly targeted towards younger age groups and this is totally unacceptable.
“Directors of public health across the East Midlands are currently working together to agree a joint position statement.
“Vaping should never be targeted at children and we need to reduce the number of young people accessing vape products by continuing to support tighter e-cigarette regulations where necessary.
“There are also environmental implications of single-use vapes. Disposable vapes are adding significantly to plastic waste.
“Smoking is the greatest cause of avoidable ill health and mortality and evidence suggests that if you already smoke, vaping is less harmful.
“However, if you don’t smoke, don’t start vaping as the potential long-term health concerns are not yet known.
“Due to the fact that vaping is less harmful than smoking, switching can help smokers to quit and it is important there is a focus on ensuring existing smokers looking to stop have access to suitable and reasonably priced products.
“Derbyshire County Council has an agreed position on the use of vapes as an aid to quitting smoking which is in line with the national position: E-cigarettes – Live Life Better Derbyshire
“Any smokers considering stopping can get free support to help quit from the county council’s Live Life Better Derbyshire service via livelifebetterderbyshire.org.
Dr Robyn Dewis, director of public health at Derby City Council, said: “We know that smoking tobacco is currently the greatest cause of avoidable ill health and death and we are confident that, if you are a smoker who is struggling to quit, vaping is a less harmful alternative.
“It is important that suitable regulated products remain accessible for smokers wanting to quit.
“However, vaping is not risk-free and anyone who does not smoke is strongly advised not to vape as we will not know for some years what the long-term effects may be.
“It is illegal to sell vapes to children and marketing vapes to young people is totally unacceptable.
“I am very concerned that current disposable vape products, with bright colours and sweet-like flavours, are particularly attractive to young people.
“The increase in the use of these products is also having an impact on our environment, increasing plastic waste.
“Any smokers considering stopping can get free support to help quit from the city council’s Livewell service via www.livewellderby.co.uk/stop-
This week, nine Cheshire and Merseyside public health directors called the “attempt to make vapes ‘cool’ amongst children disgraceful”.
They wrote: “Our greatest concern is the impact that vaping is having on our children.
“Let us be clear, we understand that vapes can help people stop smoking, but it is unacceptable that colourful, covetable, plastic vapes are permeating children’s lives and setting them up for a life-long dangerous smoking habit.
“We have no doubt that aggressive marketing and advertising strategies from tobacco companies, like offering a variety of enticing flavourings and colours, are to blame.
“Why else would vape manufacturers sell flavours named after sweets, if not to target children?
“We are only supportive of the use of vapes when they are used as a tool to give up smoking for life.
“Whilst vapes are sometimes advertised as a risk-free alternative to smoking, we do not yet know the long-term effects of regular vaping. In the short term, using vapes can cause coughing, headaches, dizziness and sore throats.
“Some vapes also contain nicotine, which is incredibly addictive, and is why they should only be used as a tool to stop smoking.”
The nine Cheshire and Merseyside directors are calling for:
- A complete country-wide ban on the sale of disposable vapes, for the sake of the environment and our young people
- Additional restrictions and rules around the advertising and marketing of vapes, including around design and flavours, so that it can be promoted only as a smoking cessation tool for adults
- A significant increase in fines for retailers selling illicit vaping products and vapes to those aged under 18
- An urgent response from the Department of Health and Social Care on when the promised £3 million “illicit vapes enforcement squad” will be formed
- The introduction of a consultation around the regulation and licensing of vapes, so that they are sold by approved retailers for the purpose they were originally designed for
- Increasing the power and capacity of local Trading Standards teams to enforce new regulations and licensing.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “While vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, it is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to children and we are concerned about the recent rises in youth vaping – particularly the use of disposable vaping products.
“We launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products, exploring a range of issues including the marketing and promotion of vapes.
“The call for evidence has now closed, and the Government will be considering a range of options based on the evidence provided.
“We are also taking bold action to crack down on youth vaping through the £3 million illicit vapes enforcement squad to tackle underage sales to children.”
