Disposable vapes like Elf bars should be BANNED in Britain, ex-health minister claims

Conservative former health minister Dr Caroline Johnson called for a vape ban
She said e-cigarettes contain ‘known carcinogens’ and ‘18% of kids are users’
It comes as the Mail found British children are being illegally sold the gadgets

By Hannah Mcdonald For Mailonline

Updated: 18:28 GMT, 8 February 2023

Disposable vapes should be immediately banned in Britain, an ex-health minister demanded today.

Dr Caroline Johnson claimed prohibiting the sale of gadgets like the Elf Bar would prevent an ‘epidemic of teenage nicotine addicts’.

Urging MPs to back her motion, the Tory MP and paediatrician argued it would also help ‘protect our planet’.

Dr Johnson’s plea comes days after an investigation by the Mail found children are being illegally sold vapes containing up to 3,500 puffs of nicotine.

Chinese vaping giant Elf Bar admitted ‘inadvertently’ breaking the law after the audit found its products exceeded maximum levels.

Disposable vapes like Elf bars should be banned in Britain, an ex-Health Minister has claimed (file photo)

Conservative former health minister Dr Caroline Johnson (pictured) urged MPs to back her Disposable Electronic Cigarettes (Prohibition of Sale) Bill

In response, Tesco removed some of its gadgets — sold for as little as £5.99 — from stores.

The brand, which only launched in 2021, sells 2.5m Elf Bars 600s in the UK per week, accounting for two in three of all disposable vapes.

Dr Johnson urged MPs to back her Disposable Electronic Cigarettes (Prohibition of Sale) Bill.

Despite it being illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s, one in 10 secondary school pupils are now regular users.

Official data shows prevalence has doubled among kids in less than a decade.

Gadgets are often sold in snazzy colours and with child-friendly names and flavours, like bubble-gum and strawberry milkshake.

Although judged to be safer than smoking by top experts, their long-term effects on health remains a mystery and doctors fear a wave of lung disease and even cancer in the coming decades.

Vapes contain ‘known carcinogens’ and have been linked with harms similar to those faced by smokers, Dr Johnson said.

‘E-cigarettes are very new and some members in this House may recall there was a time when cigarettes themselves were considered safe,’ she added.

Dr Johnson added that banning disposable vapes would also stop the ‘vital’ lithium batteries used to power them from being thrown in landfill, or from polluting the environment.

The Sleaford and North Hykeham MP said: ‘By banning the sale of disposable vapes, we will encourage a more sustainable way of utilising e-cigarettes as quitting aids and make vaping less accessible to children, preventing an epidemic of teenage nicotine addicts and protecting our planet.’

NHS Digital, which quizzed nearly 10,000 students aged 11 to 15 on their smoking, drug and drinking habits last year, found that nine per cent currently vape — the highest rate logged since the survey began in 2014

Prevalence of vapes — which can contain as much nicotine as 50 cigarettes — has doubled among kids in less than a decade (Pictured: Elf bars)

Dr Johnson’s Bill will be considered by MPs again on Friday March 24 but will not progress through the Commons without support from the Government.

It comes after it was revealed that the number of British children being hospitalised by vaping has quadrupled in a year.

Some 32 instances of under-18s needing medical treatment for e-cigarette-related ailments were recorded in 2022, up from just eight in the year before.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAPING

What are e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.

They do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide — two of the most harmful parts of tobacco smoke.

The devices work by heating liquid that contains nicotine and flavourings.

They can come as vape pens — which are shaped like a pen or small tube with a tank to store e-liquid and batteries — or pod systems that are rechargeable and often shaped like USB sticks.

Are they dangerous?

E-cigarettes are not risk-free but are believed to cause less harm than smoking.

However, its liquid and vapour contain harmful chemicals that are also found in traditional cigarettes, but it much lower levels.

These chemicals have been linked to lung inflammation, chronic coughs, shortness of breath and lung disease.

There have also been cases of e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire.

Can children buy them?

A law came into force in 2011 which made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s in the UK.

However, there has been reports of children buying them directly from shops.

What action do experts want?

Campaigners have called for more funding to enforce the laws against underage sales, action on child-friendly packaging and labelling, as well as promotion on social media.

And a Government-commissioned review published in June recommended a review of vape flavours to ensure they don’t appeal to young people.

The paper, by former children’s charity chief Javed Khan, also recommended that cartoons and images on vaping products be banned.

Have other countries already taken action?

The US Food and Drug Administration banned all products sold by e-cigarette company Juul in June.

It found that there was not enough evidence to confirm its products did not harm public health.

However, the FDA then paused its decision in July while it carries out an additional review on the company’s products.

The US regulator had already banned fruity flavours of e-cigarettes.

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