The British Prime Minister announced a ban on disposable e-cigarettes.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced that in order to protect the health of children and adolescents, legislation will be imposed to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in the UK. This is a major step towards achieving the goal of a "smoke-free generation".
Dangers of disposable e-cigarettes.
A disposable e-cigarette is an e-cigarette product that comes pre-loaded with e-cigarette liquid and batteries and is discarded after one use. It is shaped like a pen, has a high nicotine content, has a variety of flavors, and is cheap, so it is popular among young people. However, it also has a number of potential harms, including:
Easy to get addicted to children and teenagers. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can affect the development of the brain, leading to problems such as poor concentration, anxiety, depression, etc.
Harmful to physical health. E-cigarette liquid contains some toxic chemicals, such as acrolein, formaldehyde, etc., which can irritate the respiratory tract and cause cough, asthma, pneumonia and other diseases.
Pollution to the environment. Disposable e-cigarettes are a hard-to-be-best waste, with 5 million being thrown away every week, and the batteries and plastic in them contaminate soil and water.
UK**'s response.
In order to solve the problem of e-cigaretteing among children and young people, the United Kingdom** has decided to take the following measures:
The sale of disposable e-cigarettes is prohibited. This is part of the Smoking and Vaping Consultation launched in October 2023 and is supported by nearly 70% of parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and the general public. The ban is expected to take effect in late 2024 or early 2025.
Limit the flavor and packaging of e-cigarettes. New powers will be introduced to prohibit the sale of e-cigarette flavours specifically aimed at children, such as fruits, candies, etc., and require manufacturers to use more plain, less visually appealing packaging.
Adjust the way e-cigarettes are displayed. There will also be changes to the way e-cigarettes are displayed in stores, moving them out of the eyes of children and away from products that appeal to them, such as candy.
Increase penalties for illegal sales. **There will also be new fines imposed on shops in England and Wales that illegally sell e-cigarettes to children. The Standard will have the power to take action "on the spot" to address the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes to minors.
The sale of tobacco products to children under the age of 14 is prohibited. **Reaffirm its commitment to the first tobacco-free generation and enact legislation so that children aged 15 or younger this year can never legally sell tobacco. This means that the younger generation can grow up "smoke-free", which can improve the health of the population.
The statement of the British Prime Minister.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the measures during a visit to a school. He said he was obligated to do what he thought was right for the country in the long run. He said:
As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends right now is the increase in the number of e-cigarettes among children, so it's imperative that we take action before e-cigarettes become popular. The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are unknown, and the nicotine in e-cigarettes can be highly addictive, so while e-cigarettes can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing e-cigarettes to children is unacceptable. That's why I'm taking bold action to ban disposable e-cigarettes and proposing new powers to limit e-cigarette flavors, introduce plain packs, and change the way e-cigarettes are displayed in stores. In addition to our commitment to stop children who are 15 years of age or younger from legally selling cigarettes this year, these changes will leave a lasting legacy by protecting the health of our children for the long haul.
Epilogue. This ban in the UK** is a major blow to the e-cigarette industry and a major protection for the health of children and adolescents. Although e-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking, they should never be a plaything for children. It is hoped that this initiative of the United Kingdom can attract global attention and emulate, so that more countries and regions can join the ranks of banning disposable e-cigarettes and work together to create a smoke-free world.