Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       View from Westminster email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       Single-use vapes look set to be banned by the government after concerns that children could become addicted to them.

       The move could come as early as next week as health ministers decided the products are overwhelmingly aimed at people under the age of 18.

       Disposable vapes come in sweet and fruity flavours, such as pink lemonade and gummy bear, and are sometimes placed near sweets or the front counters of shops.

       The decision to ban single-use vapes will be revealed in a consultation released by the Department of Health and Social Care next week, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.

       Appearing on Sky News on Tuesday morning, science minister Michelle Donelan did not confirm a ban but said the government would be making “further announcements on this”.

       Recommended Vapes are ‘best quit aid’ in UK but linked to stress in young people, research finds Tories accept ￡350,000 donation from vape firm despite crackdown on e-cigarettes for children

       She said: “We have been looking into this and doing a review because this is a very worrying trend that we’re seeing.

       “Young children are taking up vaping who have never smoked before and it is extremely dangerous to their health and well-being and it is something we do need to act on. And as a government what we are trying to do is recognise what are the key challenges.”

       Australia has already banned all forms of vaping, unless you have a prescription and France also has plans to ban disposable vapes.

       It comes just a week after research from recycling campaign group Material Focus showed that the number of disposable vapes thrown away has quadrupled to five million per week over the past year.

       Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video

       Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

       Sign up

       Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video

       Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

       Sign up

       More than seven million single-use vapes are bought every week in the UK - double the amount bought in 2022.

       Reports say ministers are drawing up plans to ban disposable vapes to help protect children (Irina Kashparenko/Alamy/PA)

       However, only 17 per cent of people correctly recycle their vapes in a shop or local recycling centre, Material Focus said.

       Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, a non-profit organisation which campaigns to increase recycling rates, said the problem of single-use vapes has got “out of control”.

       Research carried out by the organisation found 73 per cent of UK vapers say they throw away single-use vapes, with 33 per cent of 16 to 18-year-old vapers admitting to disposing of their vapes in a bin at their place of education or work.

       The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils and local authorities, has previously called for an outright ban on disposable vapes by next year.

       Councillor David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “Councils are not anti-vapes, which are shown to be less harmful than smoking and have a place as a tool to use in smoking cessation.

       “However, disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more vapes.

       “Single-use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, are expensive and difficult to deal with in our recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children and the penalties for retailers selling them don’t go far enough.

       “Councils urge the government to take this action to protect our planet, keep children safe and save taxpayers money.”

       Recommended Tories accept ￡350,000 donation from vape firm despite crackdown Number of vapes thrown away every week soars to five million Tobias Ellwood resigns as defence committee chair after video praising Taliban

       Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has previously said: “The key points about vaping (e-cigarettes) can be easily summarised.

       “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable.”

       More about Vaping Children ban

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 2Single use vapes set to be banned over child addiction concerns

       Single use vapes set to be banned over child addiction concerns

       Reports say ministers are drawing up plans to ban disposable vapes to help protect children (Irina Kashparenko/Alamy/PA)

       Single use vapes set to be banned over child addiction concerns

       Councils and environmental campaigners have called for a ban of single-use vapes on environmental and health grounds

       PA Wire

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in