UK Government Faces Criticism for Limited Action on E-Cigarettes

According to a report by UK media Inews, the British government has announced an eight-week-long public consultation. However, some members of society have criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for focusing solely on reducing the use of disposable e-cigarettes, neglecting to address the issue of youth e-cigarette usage and failing to introduce a complete ban on e-cigarettes altogether.

In the proposed plan, the government is considering additional measures to restrict the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. These measures include limiting the flavors and marketing of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children, regulating the packaging of e-cigarettes, and increasing their prices. The aim is to reduce the allure of e-cigarettes among teenagers.

In response to these policies, the UK Children's Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has urged the Government to take decisive action and implement a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

According to her, only through strong actions, including a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes, can we prevent young people from becoming infatuated with e-cigarettes." she said.

The Local Government Association (LGA) of England and Wales has also joined the call for the Prime Minister to consider a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. David Fothergill, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Committee, stated that

The disposable e-cigarette is fundamentally an unsustainable product, hence a comprehensive ban is the most effective solution to address this issue.

A recent draft indicates that the proportion of British teenagers attempting e-cigarettes has increased by 50% in the past year. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has also called for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes, emphasizing that they are not risk-free products and may be as addictive as, if not more addictive than, traditional cigarettes.

Despite the government's commitment to protect children from the long-term dangers of smoking as quickly as possible based on previous promises, everything has become deeply concerning.

UK Labour Party member and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that if the Labour Party were to enter 10 Downing Street (thus becoming the governing party), they would respond to the call for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. He added, "I hope to see them completely disappear."