BAN underage vaping NOW!!! Protect our children (Raise the legal ‘vaping’ age to 18 years)
The Issue
URGENT: WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH!!!
Vaping is a serious health hazard. Sign this petition to raise the legal age to ‘vape’ to 18 years, require ID proof for access to purchase vapes, license “vape” retailers and issue harsh fines for those breaking the law (retailers and users).
The alarming rise in vaping among young people is a serious public health concern. As of 2022*, the percentage of 11- to 17-year-olds using vapes has nearly doubled, with the proportion of children who admit ever having tried vaping rising from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022.
Disposable e-cigarettes use is up more than 7-fold from 7% in 2020 to 52% in 2022, and is the most used product among current vapers. This trend is highly worrisome considering the harmful effects of vaping on adolescent health.
Why is vaping increasing in popularity despite being a health hazard?
Vapes are highly addictive and marketed in a range of 'vape juice' flavours**. They are promoted as ‘trendy’ by social media influencers on channels like TikTok, Instagram etc. that appeal to underage users. Easy access and affordability (47% of purchases are from shops and retail for £5 per unit on average) only make it more attractive and harder to resist. This may start as social experimentation, but can easily turn into addiction. Additionally, a quarter of the products purchased were found to not meet UK standards, posing even greater health risks.
Harmful effects of ‘vaping’ on adolescents
E-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquid may contain nicotine, even if they have been labelled ‘nicotine free’. One e-liquid pod can contain as much nicotine as a packet of cigarettes.
Nicotine exposure during teenage years can harm brain development (which continues until about age 25), leading to long-term negative effects on learning, memory, attention, impulse control, and mental health - including anxiety and depression. It can also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs
E-liquids can also poison children and adults through ingestion or skin contact, while the recent outbreak of lung disease and deaths related to e-cigarette use in the United States demonstrates that vaping aerosol can be harmful to the lungs. E-cigarettes can also be modified to deliver marijuana and other harmful substances that have been linked to lung disease.
Current legal framework:
The maximum penalty if convicted of selling a nicotine inhaling product to a person under 18 years is a fine of £2500. If further offences occur in a two-year period, Trading Standards can make an application to a Magistrates’ Court for a restricted premises order and/or a restricted sales order. To date no such orders have been issued.
In summary, setting the legal age for vaping to 18 years is a responsible measure to :
- Protect young people’s health: from the physical and mental health risks associated with vaping
- Maintain consistency with other age restrictions: Set the legal age of vaping to 18 years - the same legal age as smoking cigarettes for consistency, to streamline enforcement of age restrictions.
- Prevent addiction: Nicotine is an addictive substance found in most vaping products. By setting the legal age for vaping at 18, it helps to prevent young people from developing a nicotine addiction, which can be difficult to break and lead to long-term health problems.
- Enforce legal responsibility: Setting the legal age for vaping at 18 makes it clear that it is illegal for anyone under that age to purchase or use vaping products. This helps to ensure that individuals and businesses are held accountable for any illegal activity related to vaping.
CALL TO ACTION: Take action to protect our children and young people. SIGN AND JOIN US in demanding change by signing this petition today. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the health of our future generations.
PLEASE SHARE with your networks - thank you!
*Action on Smoking and Health (ASH Report July 2022) Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain - ASH
** Fun and Fruity Vape Juice flavours available: Apple, Beverage, Blood Orange, Blue Raspberry, Blueberry, Blueberries, Bubblegum, Cherry, Cola, Cotton Candy, Energy, Grape, Guava, Honey, Ice, Ice Cream, Kiwi, Lemon, Lemonade, Lime, Mango, Melon, Menthol, Mojito, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Raspberries, Sour, Strawberry, Tobacco, Watermelon, Berry
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The Issue
URGENT: WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH!!!
Vaping is a serious health hazard. Sign this petition to raise the legal age to ‘vape’ to 18 years, require ID proof for access to purchase vapes, license “vape” retailers and issue harsh fines for those breaking the law (retailers and users).
The alarming rise in vaping among young people is a serious public health concern. As of 2022*, the percentage of 11- to 17-year-olds using vapes has nearly doubled, with the proportion of children who admit ever having tried vaping rising from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022.
Disposable e-cigarettes use is up more than 7-fold from 7% in 2020 to 52% in 2022, and is the most used product among current vapers. This trend is highly worrisome considering the harmful effects of vaping on adolescent health.
Why is vaping increasing in popularity despite being a health hazard?
Vapes are highly addictive and marketed in a range of 'vape juice' flavours**. They are promoted as ‘trendy’ by social media influencers on channels like TikTok, Instagram etc. that appeal to underage users. Easy access and affordability (47% of purchases are from shops and retail for £5 per unit on average) only make it more attractive and harder to resist. This may start as social experimentation, but can easily turn into addiction. Additionally, a quarter of the products purchased were found to not meet UK standards, posing even greater health risks.
Harmful effects of ‘vaping’ on adolescents
E-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquid may contain nicotine, even if they have been labelled ‘nicotine free’. One e-liquid pod can contain as much nicotine as a packet of cigarettes.
Nicotine exposure during teenage years can harm brain development (which continues until about age 25), leading to long-term negative effects on learning, memory, attention, impulse control, and mental health - including anxiety and depression. It can also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs
E-liquids can also poison children and adults through ingestion or skin contact, while the recent outbreak of lung disease and deaths related to e-cigarette use in the United States demonstrates that vaping aerosol can be harmful to the lungs. E-cigarettes can also be modified to deliver marijuana and other harmful substances that have been linked to lung disease.
Current legal framework:
The maximum penalty if convicted of selling a nicotine inhaling product to a person under 18 years is a fine of £2500. If further offences occur in a two-year period, Trading Standards can make an application to a Magistrates’ Court for a restricted premises order and/or a restricted sales order. To date no such orders have been issued.
In summary, setting the legal age for vaping to 18 years is a responsible measure to :
- Protect young people’s health: from the physical and mental health risks associated with vaping
- Maintain consistency with other age restrictions: Set the legal age of vaping to 18 years - the same legal age as smoking cigarettes for consistency, to streamline enforcement of age restrictions.
- Prevent addiction: Nicotine is an addictive substance found in most vaping products. By setting the legal age for vaping at 18, it helps to prevent young people from developing a nicotine addiction, which can be difficult to break and lead to long-term health problems.
- Enforce legal responsibility: Setting the legal age for vaping at 18 makes it clear that it is illegal for anyone under that age to purchase or use vaping products. This helps to ensure that individuals and businesses are held accountable for any illegal activity related to vaping.
CALL TO ACTION: Take action to protect our children and young people. SIGN AND JOIN US in demanding change by signing this petition today. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the health of our future generations.
PLEASE SHARE with your networks - thank you!
*Action on Smoking and Health (ASH Report July 2022) Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain - ASH
** Fun and Fruity Vape Juice flavours available: Apple, Beverage, Blood Orange, Blue Raspberry, Blueberry, Blueberries, Bubblegum, Cherry, Cola, Cotton Candy, Energy, Grape, Guava, Honey, Ice, Ice Cream, Kiwi, Lemon, Lemonade, Lime, Mango, Melon, Menthol, Mojito, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Raspberries, Sour, Strawberry, Tobacco, Watermelon, Berry
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Petition created on 1 April 2023