THE UK government is taking action to curb the use of vaping among young people by closing a loophole that allows retailers to give free vape samples to children.
The crackdown on vape marketing aims to prevent the unacceptable targeting of children and teens, according to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The government also plans to review the rules surrounding the sale of nicotine-free products to individuals under the age of 18.
This comes as recent NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018.
The announcement has been met with criticism from the Labour Party, who deemed it a “baby step” and called for urgent action.
A recent investigation revealed that illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils contained dangerously high levels of lead, nickel, and chromium.
The Prime Minister expressed shock over the findings and pledged to strengthen marketing regulations to end the said practice for good.
The government’s measures, including fines for shops selling illicit vapes, have received support from the UK Vaping Industry Association.
However, critics argue that bolder steps, such as taxation, are needed to discourage young buyers.