Now will vaping be banned outside schools and hospitals? New crackdown could see more restrictions as study finds 330,000 primary schoolers have puffed on e-cigs
Vaping outside schools and hospitals could be banned under a crackdown on e-cigarettes, it was reported last night.
Vaping outside schools and hospitals could be banned under a crackdown on e-cigarettes, it was reported last night.
In an effort to discourage children from taking up the habit, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is planning to restrict vaping in certain public places.
Sir Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, is said to be in favour of the move.
Vapes are considered safer than traditional cigarettes and the NHS promotes smokers switching to them.
However, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among non-smokers, with recent data suggesting a million users had never smoked tobacco before.
In an effort to discourage children from taking up the habit, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is planning to restrict vaping in certain public places
Restrictions on vaping will be included in the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, set to be presented in Parliament
Restrictions on vaping will be included in the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, set to be presented in Parliament. The new restrictions will include a ban on children currently aged under 14 from ever buying cigarettes even as they get older, a policy of the last government and former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Sir Chris has previously criticised the utterly unacceptable marketing of vapes to children. Last year, he wrote that vaping was not risk-free and that non-smokers should not view vaping as a completely safe alternative.
It comes after the Government announced it was considering a controversial plan to ban smoking cigarettes in pub gardens. Ministers are unlikely to introduce a similar ban on vaping, according to The Times.
It comes as a study found that one-in-15 primary school children have vaped - thats more than 330,000 kids aged between 5-11.
A study by researchers at insurance firm Zurich polled 1,000 parents with children aged between 5-17.
It found that 14% of the mums and dads asked said they had caught their child vaping, which works out at 140 of all the 1,000 children overall.
For those aged 11 and under - those still in primary school - the study found that 6.7% had vaped, with works out at 67 of the 1,000 kids, around one-in-15.
With around 5m kids in the estimated 21,000 primary schools in the UK, that would work out at 335,000 who have vaped.
It comes as a study found that one-in-15 primary school children have vaped - thats more than 330,000 kids aged between 5-11
The study found that children confessed to getting the vapes from various places, with 38% saying they bought them from friends at school.
A total of 32% said they got the vapes from family members, with 29% buying them online, and 22% from local shops, often using a fake ID.
Of the 140 kids who vaped, 13% of parents said they reckoned their child vaped every day.
A total of 29% of parents said they had found disposable vapes in their childs bedroom, with 17% saying theyd found a vaping device in their childs schoolbag.
Mira Osinibi, a paediatric respiratory nurse, said that children often vaped until the early hours as they scrolled on social media.
She said: The biggest problem Im seeing is that vaping addiction in young people sits side by side with the time spent scrolling on social media.
Many scroll on social media into the early hours whilst using their a vape.
This means the amount of time spent vaping is far higher than they were ever designed to be used for.
Mira Osinibi, a paediatric respiratory nurse: The biggest problem Im seeing is that vaping addiction in young people sits side by side with the time spent scrolling on social media
Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group, said: “This research is a stark warning: we must urgently safeguard our children and young people from the health risks and social harms of vaping.
“Banning sales and use is just the first step.
“We need far stronger action to curb the promotion of these products and restrict access to them, both online and offline.
“We call on the government to take decisive action and urge educators, parents, carers, and community members to educate children about the risks of vaping.
“Open, honest, and non-judgemental conversations at home and school can dispel myths, empower young people to make informed choices, and minimise the influence of peers.”
Amy Brettell, MD at Zurich Municipal, said: “Vaping has become a huge problem in schools in recent years.”
