Young people vaping in Jersey 'a concern'

Peter Bradley said the danger to children was a concern as there was "so much we don't know"

Vaping amongst young people and children is "a concern", Jersey's director of public health has said.

Peter Bradley said the danger to children was there was "so much we don't know".

The government is set to consider banning the sale of disposable vapes from 2025 - a move voted for in Guernsey with a date for the ban to be confirmed.

Deputy Steve Luce, Jersey's Minister for the Environment, said the government's aim was to "get these single-use vapes out of circulation".

Mr Bradley said: "If you're an adult who smokes, vaping is probably a very good alternative for you, because the risks are much smaller.

"If we're talking about younger people and children, we really don't know what the impact of vapes are over the long term.

"It affects their brain development, it affects their behaviour and potentially makes them dependent on nicotine."

The UK government had planned to introduce a ban on young people smoking and a new tax on vaping products - but it failed to make it through Parliament before it was dissolved for the general election.

Deputy Steve Luce said the aim was to "get these single-use vapes out of circulation"

Mr Luce said he believed disposable vapes were a big attraction to young people.

He said an issue was that they were "relatively cheap and often presented in colourful packaging".

If a ban is approved by the States, it would- be included in the Single Use Plastics Law.

Mr Luce said: "You could says it's an environmental aspect - obviously the Single Use Plastics Law is to get people to re-use and recycle.

"The real reason we're using the Single Use Plastics Law is that it's the one that we identified as the quickest route to market of getting rid of single-use vapes.

"We're thinking about health and young people and we want to act as quickly as we can."

Sarah Ward said those selling vapes should have to have a licence, which includes not selling to under 18s

Sarah Ward, from shop Vape Jersey, said retailers needed to be more vigilant in preventing the sales of disposable vapes to under 18s.

She said: "My belief is we should be licensed so if you're caught selling to under age your licence is revoked."

Aaron Want, owner of St Peter's vape shop, said he made sure under 18s were not "allowed in here".

He said the shop was recycling used vapes and giving customers "20p for each vape brought back".