A COVENTRY professor has claimed vaping was ‘far too attractive’ to younger generations after reports emerged the government is set to ban disposable vapes.
It has been reported ministers could vote to ban disposable vapes ‘as early as this week’ to stop children becoming addicted to the devices.
Dr James Gill from the University of Warwick said while he recommended vapes to people trying to stop smoking as ‘the lesser of the two evils’, he felt disposable vapes had another, insidious harm.
He added whilst finding alternatives to cigarette smoking should continue to be a priority, vapes were far too attractive to young people.
Selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, however, NHS figures for 2021 showed nine per cent of 11 to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes, up from six per cent in 2018.
In May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to close a loophole allowing the vaping industry to give free samples of vapes to children in England to clamp down on youth vaping.
Dr Gill said: “Their fruity flavours and bright colours are targeted towards children, regardless of what manufacturers say.
“We all know banning a product is tantamount to free advertising, and also produces a preserve incentive for some people to source them too – try banning Pokemon cards at school and watch their trading explode.”
He added the respiratory impact of children vaping is a concern as the ‘enticing flavours’ appeal to youngsters to try these products.
“We don’t yet know enough about the long-term impacts of the inhalation of the harmful substances found in e-cigarettes.
“The chemicals in these products could cause inflammation, reduce lung function, and make children more susceptible to respiratory infections.
“Furthermore, the appealing packaging of disposable vapes contributes to the normalisation of vaping among young people, which can lead to a lifelong addiction to nicotine and other harmful substances.”
