Disposable vapes may be banned under plans being considered by Labour

The Prime Minister said in opposition that he would support measures to curb the rising number of young people taking up vaping

Disposable vapes could be banned under plans being considered by Labour to crack down on their use among children.
Ministers are drawing up plans to curb sales of vapes and other consumer nicotine products to children by placing restrictions on their branding, flavours, packaging and display.
They are also considering going further by taking on plans by Rishi Sunak to ban single-use vapes, which have proved attractive to children as they are often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging.
In opposition, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would support such a ban to curb the rising number of young people taking up vaping and on Sunday Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell pledged the Government would “tackle the scourge of vaping.”
Some 7.2 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1 per cent in 2020.
Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of 11 to 17-year-olds admit to having tried vaping.
“Ministers are currently reviewing options on whether we want to progress a ban on disposable vapes,” a Government source said.
The Treasury is also due to respond shortly to a consultation on whether there should be a new “vape tax”, which would add up to £3 per 10 millilitres of liquids containing nicotine.
The moves are being considered for the Government’s tobacco and vapes bill, which will introduce a progressive smoking ban that would mean that any children born on or after January 1 2009 will never be able to legally be sold cigarettes.
The Government has sparked a backlash with proposals to ban smoking in pub beer gardens, which the hospitality industry warned could cause “serious economic harm” to venues.
Ministers believe vapes have an important role to play in helping adults quit smoking, but want to ensure they do not hook the next generation onto nicotine.
The Bill will give ministers powers to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of vapes, which is likely to include curbs on flavours targeted at children such as bubble gum and candy floss.
The British Medical Association has called for all vape flavours other than tobacco to be banned, disposable vapes to be barred from sale, a ban on the use of all imagery, colouring and branding for both packaging and devices and for vapes to be taken off shop shelves and kept behind the counter.
Mr Sunak’s tobacco and vapes bill enacting those changes was lost in the washup of legislation when he called his early election.
Ahead of the election, Sir Keir accused the Government of being slow to act on banning disposable vapes, saying Labour would back the move.
“I support the banning of disposable vapes, not least because of the impact they have on children,” he said.
“We have been campaigning for this for two years. So I have a question for the Government which is why has it taken two years to get to this stage. We have wasted two years.”
Jeremy Hunt’s 2024 budget also proposed a new tax on vaping products in October 2026 on top of VAT, which is currently charged on them.
A Treasury source said the Government would respond to the consultation in due course.
According to the proposals, the amount of duty would depend on how much nicotine is in the vaping liquid with £1 per 10ml for nicotine-free liquids, £2 per 10ml for liquids that contain 0.1-10.9mg, and £3 per 10ml for liquids that contained 11mg or more.
Ms Powell denied the Government was “attacking the hospitality industry” with plans to ban smoking in pub beer gardens. “We support the hospitality industry. It’s vital to our communities, our high street, our economy,” she told Sky News.
“I’m not going to pre-empt what is or isn’t going to be in a future piece of legislation. But what I would say is that any such measures to extend some of these issues around smoking will be done in full consultation with business.”