Vape ads could be completely banned in the UK in drastic action to stop kids getting hooked, Rishi Sunak warns

RISHI Sunak today warned that vape ads could be completely banned in the UK as part of a major drive to stop kids getting hooked.

During a visit to Kent, the PM insisted he’s ready to take “further action” to stop retailers targeting under-18s.

Reuters

Rishi Sunak this morning visited a Kent lab that tests the chemicals contained in vapes[/caption]

Reuters

It comes as the PM launched a major plan to crackdown on kids accessing the addictive product[/caption]

Ministers have already confirmed vape sellers will be banned from giving kids free samples.

And candy-flavoured nicotine-free “gateway” vapes aimed at teens will also face a total ban.

Anti-vape squads will be able to issue on the spot fines to shops illegally selling vapes to under 18s, under new government proposals.

Kids will learn about the harmful effects of vaping at school, as they already do for smoking and boozing.

Spot checks of vapes sold at car-boot sales, corner shops and online will aim to stamp out any under-the-counter flogging to children.

And rampant social media vape adverts could also face a ban in future.

This morning at a vape chemical testing lab, Mr Sunak didn’t rule out outlawing the commercial advertising of e-cigarettes all together.

Asked about the measure, he said: “As we have seen here today at this lab, there are a range of products which are clearly not designed for adults. They are designed to appeal to children in the way that they are marketed, promoted, the flavours they use.

“That’s why at the moment we are asking for people’s views on that and that may well be one of the steps that we take to change how we regulate the market and promotion of vapes.”

The PM added: “They shouldn’t be deliberately targeting children, that’s illegal. If we need to take further action to do that, that’s what we will do.”

This morning Dr Javed Khan, the chief behind the government’s review into making England smoke free by 2030, told Times Radio plain packaging for vapes would be an “obvious step”. 

“Vaping should be promoted for those adults who currently smoke because it’s a much less riskier activity than smoking nicotine based cigarettes,” he said.

“But at the same time, a large chunk of my report talked about the risk of vaping to young people, and set out a whole list of recommendations about what the government needs to do to reduce the likelihood of young people  illegally using vape products.”