Expert comment Last updated 30 May 2023
Dr Salim Khan, Head of Department for Public Health at Birmingham City University, says measures to deter children from vaping should be “hard-hitting”.
The UK Government has announced a series of initiatives to combat the use of vapes among young people, including plans to review the fines handed out to unscrupulous traders.
“Providing trading standards officials with the powers to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to sellers of illegal vapes is a step in the right direction.
“This should also extend to the manufacture and selling of vapes that do not conform to regulatory standards. Some of these vapes have been shown to contain excessive levels of harmful chemicals.
“However, for such fines to be effective and deter future sales and manufacture, they need to be very significant.”
Dr Khan also backs action on the marketing, branding and pricing of vapes.
“Reducing the variety of colours, packaging and flavours should help curb the appeal of vapes, an approach that China has adopted in part,”
“Increasing the price of vape units should also be introduced as, currently, vapes can be bought for as little as £1.99, or even cheaper if bought in multiple units.
“The introduction of a government vapes enforcement squad to increase education around the dangers of vaping in schools is key to tackling the increased numbers of young vapers.
“This needs to be a collaborative effort, with the involvement of school police liaison officers, local sellers of vapes and parents.
“What is imperative is that the measures proposed should be hard-hitting to ensure that there are positive outcomes in reducing vaping sales and use amongst young people.”