“CHEAP DISPOSABLE VAPES NEED TO BE TAXED SO THEY CAN NO LONGER BE BOUGHT FOR POCKET MONEY PRICES”

This follows a recent interview with Rishi Sunak where he voiced his own concerns on youth vaping. The Prime Minister said: “We are having a crackdown squad,

“They’re going to go and make sure all the rules are enforced and people should not be selling vaping products to young people.”

Before the scheme was announced, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) had been calling for increased targeted action on resellers in the hopes of cutting the supply of e-cigarettes to children.

In a press release John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, said: “We welcome the targeted action by the government on youth vaping, which clearly homes in on cutting the source of supply of vapes to minors from rogue resellers.”

Other companies and vape manufacturers have also welcomed the scheme to tackle illegal sales to children in hopes that vaping will once again be viewed as a quitting tool for smoking.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: “Cheap disposable vapes need to be taxed so they can no longer be bought for pocket money prices.”

As well as conducting test purchasing in convenience and vape stores, the enforcement squads will also share knowledge and intelligence across regional networks and produce guidance to build regulatory compliance.

The ‘crackdown squads’, aptly named by the Prime Minister, will also have the authority to remove non-regulated vaping products from the shelves and at the borders of the country.

Dr Mike McKean, vice-president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, has come forward to pitch in on the enforcement squads.

He said: “We’re relieved that the UK government has started to focus on the rising levels of children and young people picking up e-cigarettes…but an enforcement squad is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The government are also intending to launch a call for evidence in the hopes that speaking to the public will garner new ideas on how to reduce children vaping.