According to a report by the BBC on January 15th, the council of a county in the UK is urging the government to completely ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. Tom Hunt, the leader of the council, recently sent a letter to Health Minister Victoria Atkins expressing concerns about the issue of young people smoking.
In his letter, Mr. Hunter explicitly stated that the sale of disposable e-cigarettes should be ceased in order to protect children and the environment. He added that while e-cigarettes may be helpful for adult smokers trying to quit, the government should take active measures to prevent children from being attracted to this harmful product. Mr. Hunter also emphasized the environmental concerns associated with disposable e-cigarettes, noting that this too is one of the reasons for the proposed ban.
The Department of Health and Social Care has responded to calls from Parliament, stating that the government is actively seeking effective methods to curb youth smoking. According to reports, up to 5 million e-cigarettes are discarded in the UK every week. The department emphasizes that while e-cigarettes may assist adults in quitting smoking, the government considers it "wholly inappropriate" for preventing children from being enticed, particularly through colorful and appealing packaging and advertisements.
Mr. Hunter further stated that, "The environmental concerns surrounding disposable e-cigarettes should not be overlooked. We are exerting pressure on the government with the aim of safeguarding children to the fullest extent and protecting the environment by advocating for a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care has revealed that the government is consulting on ways to reduce the appeal and accessibility of e-cigarettes to children and young people. The forthcoming Tobacco and E-cigarette Bill will introduce the first "smoke-free generation" with the aim of addressing the issue of teenage smoking, saving lives, and protecting children. Furthermore, the government is also planning to invest an additional £30 million per year in law enforcement agencies and allocate £3 million to the Trading Standards Office within two years, in order to tackle illegal and underage tobacco sales.
According to a survey conducted by the charity organization Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the number of children experimenting with e-cigarettes has increased by 50% from 2022 to 2023, rising from 1 in 13 to 1 in 9. The charity highlights that children's awareness of e-cigarette advertising has also grown, particularly within stores, with over half of the children reporting seeing e-cigarette promotions.
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