Government Criticized for Failing to Address Youth Vaping

Labour has sounded the alarm on the sale of vapes containing nicotine to children, despite strict regulations against it. New figures reveal that illegal vape sales to minors are widespread across the UK, prompting criticism of the government's response to the rising number of young people addicted to vaping.

Study Finds 35% of "Nicotine-Free" Vapes Actually Contain Nicotine

A study conducted by Inter Scientific has unveiled a shocking truth - 35% of e-cigarettes marketed as "0% nicotine" actually contain nicotine. This revelation calls into question the current regulations that allow retailers to sell these products to under-18s and distribute free samples regardless of age.

Alarming Rise in Youth Vaping

Labour analysis shows that the number of young e-cigarette users has tripled since 2021, with nearly 140,000 more children now regularly vaping. Shadow Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill accuses the government of failing to address this issue and allowing the vaping industry to market to children.

Government Response

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care emphasized that the government is taking action to tackle youth vaping. They stated that the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce measures to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children, aiming to create the first smokefree generation. Additionally, the government plans to increase investment for enforcement agencies and provide funding to Trading Standards to combat illegal and underage vape sales.