Latest news with #youthvaping
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
New Report Warns: Viral Smoking Imagery Could Undermine Youth Prevention Gains
Truth Initiative's seventh annual 'While You Were Streaming' report exposes the ongoing presence of tobacco in top shows, movies, and music videos WASHINGTON, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As youth e-cigarette use declines to the lowest in a decade — a hard-won public health victory — a new trend in pop culture threatens to reverse that progress. Smoking is once again being glamorized across entertainment and social media, with viral images of celebrities like Charli XCX and Jeremy Allen White lighting up. Truth Initiative's seventh annual While You Were Streaming report finds that smoking depictions in movies surged by 70% in 2023, and the number of movies depicting tobacco increased for the first time since 2020 — all while research shows that exposure to such imagery can triple a young person's odds of starting to vape nicotine. The report, titled 'Lights, Camera, Addiction: How Persistent On-Screen Tobacco Imagery Continues to Fuel Nicotine Addiction Among Young Audiences,' reveals that seven of the top 15 shows most popular among 15- to 24-year-olds in 2023 displayed tobacco. All but one of those shows have appeared in previous reports, including animated series like 'The Simpsons,' 'Family Guy,' and 'American Dad,' underscoring how tobacco imagery remains a persistent problem. The picture is even worse on the big screen, with the number of movies depicting tobacco increasing for the first time since 2020. And while the number of chart-topping songs featuring tobacco in music videos decreased from 2022, nearly one in four still included tobacco and collectively reached nearly five billion views on YouTube as of October 2024. The report comes at a moment when teen vaping has dropped to its lowest levels in a decade, an encouraging sign of progress. Yet data show that 20% of young adults are still at risk of a lifetime of nicotine addiction. The consequences of youth nicotine use are well documented: Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain, and nicotine addiction can increase stress and intensify symptoms of depression and anxiety. These risks are especially troubling amid the youth mental health crisis, as the latest CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows teen mental health has declined over the past decade. 'While youth vaping is down, on-screen tobacco imagery threatens to undo that progress,' said Dr. Jessica Rath, Senior Vice President, Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute. 'Young people deserve content and on-screen resources that support their well-being — not imagery that makes them more likely to start smoking or vaping.' Widespread tobacco imagery, often portrayed as edgy, rebellious, or cool, risks normalizing nicotine use and slowing the current positive momentum in prevention. In 2023 alone, nearly 17 million young people were exposed to streaming shows that featured tobacco. Research from Truth Initiative shows that the more young people see tobacco imagery while binge-watching, the more likely they are to report intentions to vape or smoke in the future. After years of declines, tobacco imagery is once again on the rise in popular films. It's been more than a decade since the U.S. Surgeon General concluded in 2012 that young people exposed to tobacco imagery in movies are significantly more likely to start smoking. Multiple studies have established that this response is also dose-dependent — meaning the more frequently young audiences see tobacco use on-screen, the more likely they are to initiate it themselves. The influence doesn't stop at shows and films. Tobacco imagery also appears in music videos — a format with massive reach and appeal among young audiences. 'The data are clear - tobacco imagery on screen causes tobacco initiation among youth and young adults. The entertainment industry has a choice. It can help protect an entire generation or continue to expose them to harmful images that make nicotine addiction more likely,' Rath said. 'Decision makers at all levels including policy, entertainment executives such as leaders of streaming platforms and broadcast networks, showrunners, directors, writers, actors, and music artists, have a role to play to help protect young people from a lifetime of addiction.' Truth Initiative calls for a comprehensive set of actions and policies to mitigate the harm of depicting tobacco onscreen, such as: To read the full report and list of entertainment industry recommendations, as well as for research methodology, visit About Truth Initiative Truth Initiative® is a national nonprofit public health organization committed to a future free from lifelong addiction, fostering healthier lives and a more resilient nation. Our mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all. Through our evidence-based, market-leading cessation intervention, EX® Program, and national public education campaigns, we lead the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Truth Initiative
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Moment vape shop boss in Wes Streeting's constituency ridicules disposables ban during undercover probe
A crackdown on disposable vapes has been branded a 'total farce' as shops in the Health Secretary's own constituency were found still selling the throwaway devices. Investigators were able to buy a pile of contraband in under 20 minutes in Wes Streeting 's Ilford North stronghold, with hundreds of products marked 'disposable' openly displayed and advertised in shop windows. Seven businesses in one street casually advertised and sold the illicit vapes, despite a ban introduced on June 1. Few acknowledged there was any change in the law, with just two out of 20 retailers tested across London turning investigators away. Shopkeepers face a £200 fine if caught selling the one-use devices which have been blamed for a rise in youth vaping and piles of discarded devices on the streets. But there was seemed little sign of Trading Standards teams being allocated to enforcing the ban, nor that products had been hidden or removed from shelves, campaigners carrying out their own new survey say. Under the new law, the only permitted devices are those considered reusable - with a rechargeable battery and replaceable coil. But one retailer told investigators from campaign group We Vape to simply bin reusable devices when done - potentially making a mockery of suggestions the ban could help improve the environment. Shopkeepers face a £200 fine if caught selling the one-use devices which have been blamed for a rise in youth vaping and piles of discarded devices on the streets When asked on camera how to use a rechargeable Big Puff vape - which can contain upwards of 6,000 puffs per device rather than 600 - the shopkeeper replied: 'You can use it, then you can throw it away. 'If you want to reuse it, you can. If not, you can throw it out.' There have also been reports across London of compliant retailers turning investigators away, all the while neighbouring stores were going on selling disposables for as little as £5. Some retailers have appeared prepared to break the law without consequences and gain a competitive advantage, while those obeying risked slumps in footfall and profit. The disposables ban will be followed by the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently working its way through Parliament. This proposes further restrictions on flavours, an advertising ban and a vape licensing scheme for retailers, similar to the system used for selling alcohol. Critics say failures to enforce the disposables law could now further embolden rogue traders and make new elements of the bill more difficult to enforce. Mark Oates, founder of pro-vaping campaign group We Vape, said: 'The disposable ban has been in place for little over a week and it is already a total farce. 'Our investigation shows there are many retailers who do not care about the law because they know the chances of getting caught are almost nil. 'This defiance is the seed of a new black market we will see emerge, which we have warned the government about for a year, so it is only going to get worse. 'The ban will do nothing to stop kids vaping, as they can only be sold to over 18s already, so the Health Secretary needs to tackle rogue traders by starting the vape licensing scheme as soon as possible. 'This will drive funds into Trading Standards and other enforcement agencies, forcing bad actors out of the market. A deposit return scheme would also solve littering concerns. 'If lawmakers cannot get the disposables ban right, how on earth are they going to enforce all of the new regulation brought in under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? 'The disposables ban was the first big test of government readiness for these regulations and it has been a colossal failure.' Conservative MP Jack Rankin said: 'I share the serious concerns raised by authorities across the UK about the practical challenges of enforcing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 'Without proper resources and clarity in implementation, it is becoming increasingly clear this is just bad legislation.' A recent study by former government advisor Richard Sloggett showed up to 200,000 vapers could return to smoking following the disposables ban. Future Health Research Centre said the move risks undermining progress towards a 'smoke-free' Britain if vapers are not supported to maintain their 'quit journey'. Modelling scenarios based on its findings indicate the disposable vapes ban will see between 175,000 and 378,000 people stopping vaping, and between 630,000 and 1.36million people switching to another vaping product. But the smoking rate could increase by between 90,000 and 200,000, adding 0.2 per cent to 0.4 per cent to the overall population smoking rate. Mr Sloggett said: 'The Government has committed welcome and strong action to reduce smoking and tackle youth vaping. 'However these findings show that urgent work is needed to ensure that efforts to reduce youth vaping do not have the unintended consequence of increasing the numbers smoking – particularly amongst younger people. 'The ban also feels like being a missed opportunity, with hundreds of thousands of people soon to be looking for alternatives to disposable vapes but over half saying they will simply switch to another product. 'With the ban looming, the Government now needs to get on the front foot, commit to a national mass media anti-smoking campaign and set out more clearly how it will use its forthcoming regulatory powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to help ensure that those using disposable vapes do not turn to smoking instead.' From June 1, it has been illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, in shops and online. The law is aimed at protecting the environment and tackling a surge in youth vaping rates, which have soared from 0.8 per cent in 2013 to 7.2 per cent last year. Disposable vapes, known for their variety of flavours and brightly coloured packaging, have become increasingly popular among teenagers. Moreover, an estimated 5million single use vapes, which are available to buy at pocket money prices, are thrown away in the UK every week. Retailers in England who are caught breaking the law face a minimum £200 penalty or a two-year-prison sentence for repeat offenders. Any single-use e-cigarettes that are found on sale, will be seized by Trading Standards. Rechargeable vapes that are refillable and have a battery and replaceable coil will remain on the market. It will not be illegal to own or be in possession of a single-use vape - with reports that millions of Brits have stockpiled the devices in preparation for the ban. MailOnline revealed this month that nearly 40 per cent of vapers have enough disposable e-cigarettes to last three months. All ages showed interest in stockpiling but it was 45-54-year-olds who led the way, with almost 90 per cent saying they were putting together a collection in preparation. Vapes are not currently subject to an additional tax like tobacco products, although 20 per cent VAT is charged. However, a new vaping duty is being introduced by the government on October 1 next year - to be charged at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml vaping liquid. Vape advertising is also set to be banned as part of the government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament. Then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak initially announced the plans to ban disposable vapes in January last year. The former prime minister was acting on evidence that those taking on the habit across all age groups had ballooned by more than 400 per cent since 2012. Moreover, recent NHS figures showed a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in England have tried vaping, with almost one in 10 using e-cigarettes regularly. And the highest rates of disposable vape use are among those aged 18 to 24, a survey of 4,393 British adults previously revealed. The NHS has historically recommended vapes to help people quit smoking, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK. About 76,000 people die every year from smoking-related health problems, including heart disease, strokes and cancer. E-cigarettes are less harmful and can help people quit smoking for good, according to the health service. However, vaping is not risk free - e-cigarettes contain harmful toxins and their long-term effects remains a mystery. Some doctors fear a wave of lung disease and even cancer in the coming decades due to vaping. Experts are also concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems. Freedom of Information requests revealed that 24 children in England were hospitalised due to vaping since the start of 2022. These could include lung damage or a worsening of asthma symptoms. When putting the Tobacco and Vapes Bill before Parliament last November, Mr Streeting told MPs: 'The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we're going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction. 'It is unacceptable that these harmful products are being deliberately targeted at children with brightly coloured packaging and flavours like "gummy bear" and "rainbow burst". 'The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the protection that children and young people need to avoid a life imprisoned by addiction. That's why it's so incredibly important it is voted through.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson today told MailOnline: 'Our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help us crack down on rogue retailers by giving trading standards stronger enforcement powers and it includes powers to introduce a retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. 'We are also investing £30million in total this year to tackle the illicit and underage sale of tobacco and vapes, supporting enforcement agencies including Trading Standards, Border Force and HMRC to enforce our rules.'
Malay Mail
10-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
First vape, next cake? The slippery slope of selective bans — Sim Tian Hong
JUNE 10 — The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. Just recently, Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran urged the Federal government to impose a blanket ban, citing rising healthcare costs and increasing youth vaping rates. Meanwhile, states such as Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu have already moved ahead with bans of their own or are debating similar measures. These moves are driven by understandable public health concerns. No one is questioning the motivations behind such calls. After all, nothing is more important than public health. However, are we approaching this issue in a consistent and coherent way? If we are banning vape to protect public health, why are cigarettes — a product known to cause cancer, heart disease, and countless other illnesses — still legally sold and taxed? According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use remains one of the most preventable causes of death in Malaysia. Yet, while vape is being banned or restricted in piecemeal fashion, cigarettes remain a fixture in convenience stores nationwide. The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. — Picture by Raymond Manuel This inconsistency becomes even more troubling when one considers the fragmented nature of the current policy response. Some states are imposing their own bans, others are not. The Federal government has yet to adopt a clear, unified stance. The result is a patchwork of differing rules across the country. This is bound to create confusion for the public, enforcement challenges for authorities, and opportunities for an illicit market to flourish. There is also the risk of setting a questionable policy precedent. If the principle is that we should ban products that can harm public health, where do we draw the line? Should we also move to ban junk food, sugary drinks, or alcohol, all of which contribute to non-communicable diseases and healthcare costs? I am not suggesting that we ignore the risks associated with vaping. But we should be wary of making selective, reactive policy decisions that are not grounded in a consistent framework. Rather than imposing outright bans in an uneven and fragmented way, there is a case for a more balanced and coherent approach. Stronger public education campaigns, tighter regulation of marketing and sales (especially to minors), and consistent enforcement across states may ultimately prove more effective than prohibition alone. Above all, public health policy should be seen as fair, rational, and consistent. A strategy that appears to single out certain products while ignoring others with well-documented harms, risks undermining public trust. It may also distract from the broader effort to build a healthier society. Public health must always come first. But in pursuing that goal, we should avoid the temptation to adopt inconsistent or populist measures that may generate headlines, but not necessarily better outcomes. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Disposable vape ban is now in force across the UK... but will shopkeepers abide? MailOnline investigates whether corner shops have halted sales amid Government crackdown
Shopkeepers flouted the new vapes crackdown today by selling single-use e-cigarettes on the first day of a Government ban. MailOnline found that one vape dealer in four was willing to sell the banned disposables to a reporter posing as a customer. They were happy to trade in the sweet-flavoured and brightly-packaged throwaway devices which have been ordered off the shelves to protect children's health and the environment. One trader even checked whether we were from trading standards before selling us a cola-flavoured disposable for £6. Dealers who were abiding by the law which came into force today complained that they stand to lose a fortune in stock they cannot sell. MailOnline toured the vape shops, shisha bars, corner shops and supermarkets of south London just hours after they opened their doors to customers. They face a £200 fine if caught selling the one-use devices blamed for fuelling a boom in youth vaping and a mountain of discarded cases. So popular is the move in Westminster that although the Tories drew up the legislation, Labour took it over and pushed it through after winning last year's General Election. But the MailOnline investigator approached 12 different sellers and was able to buy a one-use device from three. In Catford, south London, a general storekeeper seemed oblivious to his legal duty to sell only multi-use vapes. Asked if he had any disposables left over following the law change, he pointed to a shelf full of colourful boxes and asked: 'Which one?'. He sold us a watermelon-flavoured 20mg/ml Elfbar 600 disposable pod for £5, but we could also have chosen apple peach, grape, banana ice or others. Another storekeeper happily sold us a triple melon-favoured Lost Mary BM600 disposable for £5. Reminded that they were now banned by the Government, he said they were left with stock which they were trying to get rid of. A third shopkeeper in nearby Lewisham told us she was not allowed to sell disposables any more and had cleared her shelves. But she then asked whether we were customers or checking up on whether the ban was being observed. When she realised we were not from the council, she brought out what she said was her last remaining single use vape - a cola-flavoured Lost Mary BM600 priced at £6. In nearby Lee, an employee at Vape Man, which was not breaching the ban, said: 'We've lost lots of business because customers prefer the disposables. 'They like to buy the 600 pods but we can't sell them now so we are going to lose a lot of money. We have stock which we cannot sell. Business is definitely down. 'I'm not angry about it, but I am definitely worried. There is about £1,800 to £2,000 in stock there which we cannot get money back on. 'We don't know what to do with it. We can't send it back and we can't sell it so I guess it will have to be destroyed.' Other shopkeepers said they prepared for the ban by advising customers to switch from disposables to reusables before it came in. One, at Shisha Town, Lewisham, said: 'We told them we were going to have to get rid of the single-use ones and they gradually started switching over.' It is now illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, in shops and online. Only devices considered reusable - with a rechargeable battery and replaceable coil - will be allowed. Disposable vapes of varying flavours on sale beneath children's sweets and lollipops in a store close to Birmingham -- January 29, 2024 The law is aimed at protecting the environment and tackling a surge in youth vaping rates, which have soared from 0.8 per cent in 2013 to 7.2 per cent last year. Disposable vapes, known for their variety of flavours and brightly coloured packaging, have become increasingly popular among teenagers. Moreover, an estimated five million single use vapes, which are available to buy at pocket money prices, are thrown away in the UK every week. According to new research by online nicotine retailer, Haypp, 82 percent of disposable vape users planned to stockpile ahead of the ban. Although the crackdown sought to curb use among young people and reduce the litter and environmental impact, stockpiling poses a threat to the environment and the health of young people. Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, urged shops to comply with the new ban on single-use vapes, dubbing them a 'blight [on] our streets.' He added: 'We would also urge caution to anyone stockpiling disposable vapes. Failing to store disposable vapes correctly could cost lives, given the significant fire risk they pose.' Yet stockpiling current vapes on the market isn't the only concern, as green campaigners have warned of cheap new models with the same feel, look, and price as disposable vapes, flooding the market. Material Focus, an advocacy group for circular economies, has said vape manufacturers have been developing new styles that are cheap but meet reusable criteria, meaning they essentially circumvent the ban. They added that increasingly popular 'big puff' vapes are cheaper per inhalation than disposable vapes, arguing there there is little incentive for customers to reuse the product. Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said: 'Without quick and extensive action, the threat of a 'vapocalypse' remains and new big puff and pod vape models are already contributing to an environmental nightmare.' He added that vape company design teams have been 'working their socks off to get new legal models on to the market' while the regulatory work was being carried out. 'To most users of these vapes, and shopkeepers even, they may not notice any difference in the old disposable vapes versus the new re-useable ones,' he said. Mr Butler said that while the ban will take some of the most environmentally wasteful products off the market, the UK may need more flexible legislation to tackle challenges around new models and waste. Chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, Hazel Cheeseman, has said the incoming new rules 'may be insufficient' by themsleves. 'The Government cannot expect leopards to change their spots,' she said. 'If they want a vaping market with products that have minimal impact on the environment, do not appeal to teens and are safe and effective to help adult smokers quit, then further regulations are needed.' Asked on Friday whether the legislation would be enough to stop vape producers flooding the market with similar products, nature minister Mary Creagh said: 'Well let's bring in the ban first. That's what I would say.' Ms Creagh said the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently progressing through Parliament will look at further restrictions on vape sales and use. 'I'm confident that my colleagues in the Department of Health will not hesitate to use those powers should what we're doing this weekend not achieve the goals,' she said. 'But I'm confident that it is already sparking a conversation among young people… getting them to ask the questions, getting them to understand that there's no such place as 'away' and that these are really difficult to recycle.' She added that most big puff vapes on the market do not have replaceable coils so they are within the scope of the ban. The Government is considering further ways to drive up levels of separately collected electrical waste including vapes as part of reforms to waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations. Under current rules, vape producers already have a legal responsibility to finance their collection for recycling. Vapes contain valuable and critical materials such as lithium and copper that are regularly binned in household waste, and if littered, they can also cause fires and other damaging or toxic impacts on the environment as well as wildlife. To help drive up recycling rates, Material Focus is calling for retailers to make more collection points available as well as the launch of a major communications campaign to drive public awareness about recycling the devices. Mr Butler said: 'The majority of vapers are either unaware of where to recycle their vapes or don't have a good experience of recycling them.'
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Vape ban explained: All your questions answered as single-use disposable e-cigarettes become illegal today
Disposable vapes will banned across the UK on Sunday in a government crackdown on e-cigarettes. From June 1, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, in shops and online. Only devices considered reusable - with a rechargeable battery and replaceable coil - will be allowed. The law is aimed at protecting the environment and tackling a surge in youth vaping rates, which have soared from 0.8 per cent in 2013 to 7.2 per cent last year. Disposable vapes, known for their variety of flavours and brightly coloured packaging, have become increasingly popular among teenagers. Moreover, an estimated 5million single use vapes, which are available to buy at pocket money prices, are thrown away in the UK every week. How is the law changing? The new law which comes into effect on Sunday will ban businesses from selling or supplying disposable vapes. Retailers in England who are caught breaking the law face a minimum £200 penalty or a two-year-prison sentence for repeat offenders. Any single-use e-cigarettes that are found on sale, will be seized by Trading Standards. Rechargeable vapes that are refillable and have a battery and replaceable coil will remain on the market. It will not be illegal to own or be in possession of a single-use vape - with reports that millions of Brits have stockpiled the devices in preparation for the ban. MailOnline revealed this month that nearly 40 per cent of vapers have enough disposable e-cigarettes to last three months. All ages showed interest in stockpiling but it was 45-54-year-olds who led the way, with almost 90 per cent saying they were putting together a collection in preparation. Will vapes be taxed more? Vapes are not currently subject to an additional tax like tobacco products, although 20 per cent VAT is charged. However, a new vaping duty is being introduced by the government on October 1 next year. It will be charged at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml vaping liquid. Vape advertising is also set to be banned as part of the government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament. How many young people vape in the UK? Rishi Sunak initially announced the plans to ban disposable vapes in January last year. The former prime minister was acting on evidence that those taking on the habit across all age groups had ballooned by more than 400 per cent since 2012. Moreover, recent NHS figures showed a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in England have tried vaping, with almost one in 10 using e-cigarettes regularly. And the highest rates of disposable vape use are among those aged 18 to 24, a survey of 4,393 British adults previously revealed. Disposable vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, are known for their brightly coloured packaging and wide variety of sweet flavours. The British Medical Association previously warned that flavours such as bubblegum and candy floss could lead to nicotine addictions among children. Why are single-use vapes so bad for the environment? A key reason for the introduction of the ban on disposable vapes is to protect the environment. An estimated 5 million single use vapes, which are available to buy at pocket money prices, are thrown away in the UK every week, according to government figures. Disposable vapes contain lithium-ion batteries and circuit boards which can leak toxic chemicals such as cobalt and copper into the environment. The devices should never be put in regular bins and should be put in dedicated bins so they can be disposed of correctly. MailOnline previously reported that only 17 per cent of people correctly recycle their vapes in a shop or local recycling centre. How are vapes harmful for your health? The NHS has historically recommended vapes to help people quit smoking, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK. Around 76,000 people die every year from smoking-related health problems, including heart disease, strokes and cancer. E-cigarettes are far less harmful and can help people quit smoking for good, according to the health service. However, vaping is not risk free. E-cigarettes contain harmful toxins and their long-term effects remains a mystery. Some doctors fear a wave of lung disease and even cancer in the coming decades due to vaping. Experts are also concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems. Freedom of Information requests revealed that 24 children in England were hospitalised due to vaping since the start of 2022. These could include lung damage or a worsening of asthma symptoms. Could the ban push vapers back to smoking? A report previously warned that the disposable vapes ban could push 200,000 people back to smoking when it comes into effect. Future Health Research Centre said the move risks undermining progress towards a 'smokefree' Britain if vapers are not supported to maintain their 'quit journey'. Modelling scenarios based on its findings indicate the disposable vapes ban will see between 175,000 and 378,000 people stopping vaping, and between 630,000 and 1.36 million people switching to another vaping product. But the smoking rate could increase by between 90,000 and 200,000, adding 0.2 per cent to 0.4 per cent to the overall population smoking rate. Richard Sloggett, the report's author and a former government advisor, said: 'The Government has committed welcome and strong action to reduce smoking and tackle youth vaping. 'However these findings show that urgent work is needed to ensure that efforts to reduce youth vaping do not have the unintended consequence of increasing the numbers smoking – particularly amongst younger people. 'The ban also feels like being a missed opportunity, with hundreds of thousands of people soon to be looking for alternatives to disposable vapes but over half saying they will simply switch to another product. 'With the ban looming, the Government now needs to get on the front foot, commit to a national mass media anti-smoking campaign and set out more clearly how it will use its forthcoming regulatory powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to help ensure that those using disposable vapes do not turn to smoking instead.'
