Merseyside and Cheshire health officials call for vape ban

Nine public health directors are calling for a ban on disposable vapes

Health officials have joined forces to condemn the rise of disposable vapes and the "disgraceful" tactics tobacco companies use to target children.

Nine directors of public health operating in Cheshire and Merseyside are calling for a country-wide ban on sales of disposable vapes.

They said the rapid rise of vaping was alarming and they may have unidentified ingredients that could be harmful.

The government said it was taking "bold action" to crackdown on youth vaping.

Last month it was announced a loophole allowing retailers to give free vape samples to children is set to be closed.

The nine directors are from the council areas of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.

They said they were worried about the "negative impact vaping can have on health and wellbeing, especially amongst our children".

"Over the years, the number of people smoking has reduced significantly," they continued.

"But as directors of public health we must always be vigilant to any emerging trends that may impact this positive outcome.

"Disposable vapes also harm the environment by producing unnecessary plastic waste, with 1.3 million vapes being thrown away each week in the UK, and poorer quality vaping products readily available on the high street may have unidentified ingredients that have the potential to cause unknown harm."

The group said it understood vapes can help people stop smoking, but added it was "unacceptable that colourful, covetable, plastic vapes are permeating children's lives and setting them up for a life-long dangerous smoking habit".

They branded attempts to make vapes "cool" among children "disgraceful".

"We have no doubt that aggressive marketing and advertising strategies from tobacco companies, like offering a variety of enticing flavourings and colours, are to blame."

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The nine directors are calling for:

• A complete country-wide ban on the sale of disposable vapes

• Additional restrictions and rules around the advertising and marketing of vapes

• A significant increase in fines for retailers selling illicit vaping products and vapes to those aged under 18

• An urgent response from the Department of Health and Social Care on when the promised £3m 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' will be formed

• The introduction of a consultation around the regulation and licensing of vapes

• Increasing the power and capacity of local Trading Standards teams to enforce new regulations and licensing

The Department of Health and Social Care said: "While vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, it is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to children and we are concerned about the recent rises in youth vaping - particularly the use of disposable vaping products.

"We launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products, exploring a range of issues including the marketing and promotion of vapes. The call for evidence has now closed, and the government will be considering a range of options based on the evidence provided.

"We are also taking bold action to crack down on youth vaping through the £3m illicit vapes enforcement squad to tackle underage sales to children."