Single use vapes ban opportunity to tackle youth vaping
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents and carers to use the ban on single use vapes as an opportunity to reduce vaping among young people. Recent research by the PHA found that 46% of year 14 school pupils surveyed currently vape, despite it being illegal to sell or supply vapes to under-18s.
Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said: “The accessibility and low price of single use vapes have played a part in increasing their availability and shareability among young people, so the ban on these types of devices is an opportunity to address the concerning levels of vaping among teenagers.
“The new law means that products will only be compliant if they are refillable and rechargeable. We welcome this and hope it reduces the number of vapes in active use, and are asking parents and carers to use it as an opportunity to discourage vaping among young people and take steps to stop vapes from falling into the hands of under-18s.
“Our research has revealed that young people can easily access vapes, and they were most commonly obtained from friends and family, so the new law restricting the type of vapes which are now available should help us to collectively reduce the number reaching kids.”
The PHA said this legislation, passed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) will have many benefits for our health as well as our environment.
Colette added: “The rise of vaping among young people has become a pressing public health concern. E-cigarettes, or ‘vapes’, are extremely addictive and young people are particularly vulnerable.
“Vapes are an age-restricted product. It is illegal to sell a vape to someone who is under 18 and we would like to remind parents that it is illegal to buy or supply children with vapes. We want to encourage and support families to have open and engaging conversations with young people to steer them away from these products.
“We are pleased to see this ban come into force, which is a positive development in helping to protect public health. We are now another step closer in achieving our goal of having a smoke free generation, as well as helping to reduce the environmental impact of discarded single use vapes.”
It will be illegal from 1 June 2025 for businesses to sell or supply single use vapes across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. From this date, products will only be compliant if they are refillable and rechargeable.
For more information visit www.pha.site/vaping
