The 10-Minute Bill presented to Parliament recently looks to completely ban the sale of disposable vape products (see POTV article). This move is reported to not reflect the current Government’s position and it will not be adopting it as policy, but this doesn’t mean it couldn’t be successful given the support of two ex-Health Secretaries.
Quick links to detailed datasheets for United Kingdom at gsthr.org
Smoking in United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, smoking is allowed but tobacco products are subject to certain regulations. Under these regulations, there is a complete ban on all forms of tobacco advertising. Cigarettes can be purchased online, but not through vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with an import license. Additionally, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, and the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years. Legal restrictions on smoking in public places are also enforced. Cigarettes in the UK are subject to an excise tax of 50.56% and a total taxation rate of 83.72%. Statistics show a gradual decline in the current smoking prevalence in the UK since 2000. There were approximately 6.7 million current adult smokers in the country in 2024, representing an adult current smoking prevalence of 11.8%. This was 13.1% in 2022, and 27.1% in 2000. Smoking prevalence was higher among males with 13.6% than among females with 10.1% in 2024. Daily smoking prevalence among adults was 9.1% overall, 8.1% among females, and 10.2% among males in 2024. In 2021, smoking led to 75,848 deaths in the UK, of which 44,400 deaths were among males and 31,448 deaths were among females. This shows that smoking consisted 11.05% of all deaths in the country, including 12.6% of all male deaths and 9.42% of all female deaths.
Read articles from United Kingdom
March 15, 2023 by medpagetoday.com
Want to Make E-Cigs a Turnoff for Kids? Try Standardized Packaging
Standardized packaging may reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes for potential young users, while still maintaining their appeal among adults trying to quit smoking, a survey study from Great Britain suggested.
Youths ages 11 to 18 had significantly higher odds of reporting no interest among their peers in trying e-cigarettes that had standardized green packaging compared with branded packaging (35.8% vs 28.7%; adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.10-1.71, P=0.005), reported Eve Taylor, MSc, of King's College London, and co-authors.
March 13, 2023 by scotsman.com
Vaping can lead to cardiovascular disease and damage the adolescent brain – Dr Gwenetta Curry
These e-cigarettes were meant to be for people who were trying to quit smoking. While reducing tobacco smoking at young ages has been an ongoing issue, vaping has presented new challenges.
The UK is the second-largest market in the world for vaping products, worth £2.5 billion in 2020. The majority of people who vape in the UK are between the ages of 35 and 44, while in the US it’s 18 to 24. What is most concerning is the increase in e-cigarette use among young populations. In 2020, the 18-24 age group had the lowest vaping rate but by 2022, they had the highest. The most popular flavours are fruity ones that are designed to appeal to young people.
March 08, 2023 by inews.co.uk
Budget 2023: No vaping crackdown in spring statement as Jeremy Hunt rules out disposable e-cigarettes levy
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has rejected calls from health officials to introduce a new levy on single use vapes in next week’s Budget, i can reveal.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been pushing for the new tax to be introduced to disposable vapes such as the extremely popular Elf Bar brand as part of the Government’s plans to crack down on their use among children.
The proposals are expected to be included in the Government’s response to the Khan Review on smoking, which will also seek to clampdown on the worrying rise in vaping among under-18s.
March 07, 2023 by thegrocer.co.uk
Philip Morris launches disposable vape in UK
Philip Morris (PML) has launched its first disposable vape device onto the UK market.
The Veeba device is available in nine flavours with a nicotine strength of 1.8% (20mg/ml).
The device launch follows an international licensing agreement signed by Philip Morris International (PMI) and Kaival Brands International, which distributes US bestselling disposable device Bidi Stick.
PML, the affiliate of PMI in the UK and Ireland, said every production batch of its devices receives a certificate of analysis (COA) and is subject to regular, randomised checks to ensure devices have the correct liquid composition and nicotine content.
February 28, 2023 by planetofthevapes.co.uk
Taxing Times for UK Vapers?
Despite the current cost of living crisis and the need to encourage smokers to switch to vaping, the UK Government is considering thrusting a new tax onto vape products, according to sources inside the House of Commons. The World Vapers’ Alliance believes that such a move risks pushing vapers back to smoking.
February 13, 2023 by theguardian.com
Environment groups call for urgent action on hazardous waste from e-cigarettes
Environment groups have called for urgent clarity and regulation to respond to an increase in hazardous waste from e-cigarettes as vaping becomes more popular.
The number of people using e-cigarettes doubled between 2016 and 2019, according to the federal government, with a survey showing more than 30% of 14- to 17-year-olds have tried vaping.
The head of Clean Up Australia, Pip Kiernan, said the sharp increase presented “a new and serious environmental issue” with volunteers discovering littered e-cigarettes “in increasing volumes”.
February 10, 2023 by inews.co.uk
Why have Elf Bars been recalled? Where the vape sales have stopped after illegal levels of nicotine found
Elf Bars have been removed from UK shops after the watermelon flavour was found to contain at least 50 per cent more than the legal limit for nicotine e-liquid.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and WHSmith have confirmed they have removed all Elf Bar 600 products from their stores. Waitrose stopped selling single-use vape products earlier this month, due to environmental concerns.
Elf Bar is among the most popular vape brands in the world, coming in a wide range of flavours from kiwi passionfruit to blue razz lemonade.
January 23, 2023 by bbc.com
Illegal vapes are biggest threat on High Street, say Trading Standards
Shops selling illegal vapes and the sale of vaping products to children are the top threats on the UK's High Streets, according to Trading Standards officials.
Hundreds of thousands of vapes which flout current laws have been seized.
And there is concern that cheap, brightly-coloured vapes are ending up in the hands of 12 and 13-year-olds.
The government said it was considering what more could be done to protect children from vaping.
Child health experts said they were already "deeply disturbed" by the rise of children and young people picking up e-cigarettes.
January 20, 2023 by bbc.com
Disposable vapes ban to be considered for Scotland
A ban on disposable vapes will be considered by the Scottish government, the health minister has confirmed.
It follows a campaign against the cheap e-cigarettes, which contain lithium batteries, because of the threat they pose to the environment.
Friends of the Earth Scotland said companies should be held accountable for the design of products like vapes.
Humza Yousaf told MSPs that a review would give "consideration" to a potential ban of the devices.
Asked in the Scottish Parliament about the campaign against single-use vapes, he said an expert group would examine evidence on the devices.
January 18, 2023 by filtermag.org
How I Unexpectedly Came to Run a Vape Shop in Rural Wales
I came to live in this very small town called Lampeter, in the middle of the Welsh countryside, a few years ago. I turned 60 and wanted to retire, so I came here. Before that I lived in Stourbridge, a much bigger town in the English Midlands. I’ve done all sorts of jobs: mechanic, dog-handler and I’ve worked in security. So it may seem strange that in my retirement, with no experience of working in shops, I bought a vape shop—and now work more hours than I ever did! But here’s how it happened.