Under-age Vaping

Creasy agreed with the concern about custard, banana, bubble gum and doughnut-flavoured vapes targeted at younger palates. She emphasised that children are increasingly moving from vaping to actual cigarettes, reinforcing the need for urgent action to prevent youth access to these products.

Cooper highlighted severe cases in her constituency where children as young as 11 are using vapes and some are carrying harder drugs inside them. She stressed the urgency of action to prevent further harm.

Keeley supported Gwynne's speech, citing figures showing that nearly one-third of secondary school students in Yorkshire and the Humber have tried vaping. She expressed concern over escalating health impacts before the Government acts.

Johnson acknowledged the need to dissuade children from gaining access to vaping but also emphasised that e-cigarettes are an important tool for adult smokers looking to quit smoking and lead healthier lifestyles.

Whitehead supported de-branding vapes, citing a study by King’s College London which found that it had a deterrent effect on teenagers but no impact on adults. He advocated for action along these lines.

Antoniazzi called for more enforcement from the police and social services to stop face-to-face sales of vapes to under-age children, based on a report she received from Gowerton School in her constituency.

Nokes questioned the focus on advertising rather than price promotions. She highlighted that vapes can be bought for as little as three for £12, which is within the reach of young people's pocket money.

Ansell agreed with the speaker but emphasised that education about vaping risks and harms was also crucial. She welcomed new provisions in schools where children speak to their peers to communicate these dangers.

The Minister outlined actions taken such as banning free samples of vapes for under-18s, overhauling rules on selling nicotine-free vapes to minors, updating the school curriculum to include vaping risks and providing £35 million to NHS smoking cessation programmes. The call for evidence is expected to lead to further measures in autumn based on collected data.

Asked why the Government is consulting on limiting access to vaping for under-18s instead of stopping it altogether, given concerns about free samples and the gateway effect between vaping and smoking.

Suggested that with 40% to 50% of disposable vapes being illicit products, the Government should improve border security to clamp down on illegal vape sales alongside legal market regulation.

Highlighted high levels of vaping among young people in her local area and called for different and further action in regions with poor figures, referencing the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's concern over youth vaping becoming epidemic.

Emphasised that the next Labour Government would act robustly on advertising and packaging regulations to address youth vaping concerns.

Asked why the Government is consulting rather than following recommendations from the Khan review which reported a year ago with firm guidelines for action.

Cited evidence of decreased use in young people after plain packaging and restricted advertising for cigarettes, questioning why similar measures are not implemented for vaping products.

The SNP supports the motion to protect children from vaping. Kirsten Oswald highlights concerns about disposable vapes, which are a significant environmental and health issue. She mentions that 35 countries have banned e-cigarettes and discusses the need for stricter regulations on advertising and promotion. Oswald also raises the example of Blackburn Rovers being sponsored by a vaping retailer, questioning its acceptability. She supports calls for banning single-use vapes in Scotland and mentions studies showing high levels of dangerous chemicals in illicit vapes. She concludes that disposable vapes are a danger to both the environment and young people.

Emphasises the environmental consequences of single-use vapes, noting only 30% of them get recycled, contributing significantly to litter and landfill fires. He questions why the Government is hesitant in taking action against disposable vapes.

Asks if Kirsten Oswald would be similarly outraged about a rugby football club supported by the same vaping company, suggesting inconsistency in her stance on sponsorship.

Welcomed the debate, criticising some of the political stance taken by others. Emphasised that vaping rates among children have doubled in recent years, and agreed with the Labour motion for plain packaging for vapes as it is consistent with cigarette regulations. Cited a headteacher's testimony about the disruption caused by students vaping in school toilets, impacting education. Raised concerns over marketing practices of vape products, including sales in non-traditional locations such as chicken shops and pound shops. Stressed the need for better enforcement of laws against selling to under-18s, more government attention on online ordering, and an excise charge on batteries. Noted that disposable vapes can help people quit smoking but expressed concerns over marketing to children.

Sharma acknowledges the importance of the debate topic and expresses concern over the risk to a smoke-free future due to current levels of smoking. He highlights that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK with more than half of Britain’s 6.6 million smokers likely to die prematurely. He advocates for an integrated approach combining social support and government regulation, including measures to crack down on illicit tobacco trade and vaping among children. Sharma calls for strengthened trading standards and stricter regulations on vaping products similar to those applied to traditional tobacco products to prevent their appeal to non-smokers, especially in communities with high rates of oral cancer linked to paan and betel.

Pays tribute to the work done by Dr. Johnson on vaping issues, mentioning that vapes are an important tool for smoking cessation but also highlights concerns about flavours and pricing. Critiques promotional selling practices of vape products and mentions a case in her constituency where children were hospitalised due to unknown substances in vape sticks. Raises concern over how schools cannot detect when students use vapes. Discusses the high nicotine levels in disposable vape sticks and their potential for rapid addiction among young people. Calls for further research on flavours, plain packaging, and appropriate locations for sale of vape products.

Supports measures such as enforcing strict age verification across all retail channels, including online platforms, tightening advertising regulations to prevent marketing that appeals to children, ensuring vape products do not appeal to minors, and reinforcing law enforcement mechanisms with fines and penalties. Emphasises the need for trading standards to have more resources to combat rogue producers and retailers.

The world is emerging from a period of economic uncertainty with a war in Europe. Many young people are being given free samples of vaping products, leading to nicotine addiction and potential long-term health issues. Maggie calls for stricter regulations on vaping products, including standardised packaging similar to tobacco products, prohibition of flavoured liquids, banning sales near schools, rigorous enforcement by trading standards, and targeted taxation to disincentivise recreational use.

Labour's Front Bench has chosen youth vaping as a serious issue. Mary notes her previous efforts to standardise vape packaging but criticises the Government for rejecting these amendments and delaying further action despite cross-party support. She highlights smoking remains a greater risk, with 117,000 smoking-related deaths in the north-east since 2000. The Khan review suggests missing smoke-free targets without bold measures. Mary argues that vapes should help smokers quit but must not appeal to children due to unethical marketing practices and health risks associated with nicotine use.

Raises concerns over the appeal of vaping products to children and their potential health impacts. Highlights local efforts in Darlington to crack down on illegal vape trade and calls for a cross-departmental strategy from the Government.

Acknowledges the importance of public health measures but expresses concern over the effectiveness of current regulations. Discusses the increasing use of vapes by children and their connection to hospital admissions, urging the Government to take more proactive steps.

Johnson stresses that flavours are integral to peer pressure among children, leading them to vape. She cites an example of a headteacher from Sleaford who testified about the influence of flavors on vaping behavior in schools. Johnson also mentions that 11% of 10 and 11-year-olds are already vaping, with this number increasing to 42.4% among 16 to 17-year-olds. She advocates for a ban on flavours and disposables due to their addictive nature and environmental impact.

Foord expresses concern over the marketing of vaping products to children, noting that single-use disposable vapes are often placed prominently in supermarkets near schools. He provides an example from his constituency where these products were easily accessible to students at Tiverton High School, leading to a campaign to move them behind security doors during school hours. Foord argues for stricter regulations on the sale and marketing of disposable vapes.

Acknowledges the complexity of addressing vaping concerns among young people, noting various suggestions such as banning flavours or disposable vapes, increasing costs, tightening marketing restrictions, and enhancing education. Emphasises the need for evidence-based policy decisions to ensure that measures do not hinder adults' ability to quit smoking.

Notably brief, primarily addresses procedural concerns regarding time constraints for other speakers.

Discusses past cigarette advertising that claimed health benefits or promoted glamour, highlighting how similar tactics are now used for e-cigarettes. Argues for action to stop the marketing of vaping products targeting children and supports Labour's amendment to ban such advertising. Criticises the Government for not acting on this issue despite evidence showing its harmful effects.

Ms Maskell argued that the vaping industry is employing similar tactics to the tobacco industry in advertising and marketing its products. She emphasised the importance of reducing children's exposure to vaping, citing a survey indicating 30% of Yorkshire youth have tried vaping. She advocated for stringent regulations on vaping similar to those imposed on cigarettes, including excise taxes, plain packaging, and restrictions on advertising and promotion. Ms Maskell also highlighted that while some former smokers use vaping products as a means of harm reduction, others who never smoked are now using these products, indicating the need for robust measures to prevent nicotine addiction among young people.

The hon. Member spoke about the evidence regarding the impact of vaping on students' education, including disruptions during exams.

My hon. Friend highlighted the ongoing prevalence of smoking and the need for further work to tackle illegal tobacco sales along with vaping issues.

The right hon. Member agreed on the role of vapes in smoking cessation but was met with a less enthusiastic response due to her historical reference.

My hon. Friend stressed the need for better enforcement of existing age verification regulations regarding vaping products.

The hon. Member highlighted the sophistication and attractiveness of packaging design in retail outlets, making vaping products appealing to young people.

My hon. Friend pointed out the extent of evidence on vaping that is already available to the Government from her long track record of work on this issue.

The hon. Member raised concerns about environmental impacts, noting an increase in plastic pollution due to disposable vapes.

My hon. Friend highlighted the serious problem of vaping equipment being used for distributing more dangerous substances by young people based on her experience as a former nurse.

The hon. Member spoke about concerns over the accuracy of data regarding the safety of vaping, drawing from extensive work in this area.

The hon. Member discussed possible approaches retailers could take to manage vapes differently based on his constituency's experience.

My hon. Friend criticised the Government for failing to act on advertising restrictions, highlighting their inadequate response.

The hon. Member emphasised learning from successful anti-smoking measures and recognised vaping as an addiction issue within a broader economy of addiction.