Urgent warning over illicit vapes laced with ‘dangerous’ levels of nicotine – as experts warn ‘kids are at risk’

As lawmakers get ready to vote on a big industry crackdown today, Trading Standards seized over a million illegal vapes last year.

Last night, Health Secretary Wes Streeting issued a warning: unless lawmakers pass historic smoking bans, a whole generation of children will live a life trapped in addiction.

Anyone born after January 2009 will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes according to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Bright packaging and kid-luring flavors like bubble gum, gummy bears, and cotton candy will be prohibited as part of efforts to prevent children from vaping.

The law would also forbid vapes from being given away for free or sold in vending machines, and it will outright forbid the promotion of e-cigarettes.

Officers seized 1.19 million shady e-cigarettes from vendors in 2023–2024, according to data released today by the Trading Standards Institute.

The majority had nicotine concentrations that were unlawfully high.

Excessive doses of the stimulant, which kids may absorb more quickly, can cause breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, and palpitations in the heart.

There is growing evidence from research and patient horror stories that vaping harms the heart, blood vessels, and lungs.

In one out of every four mystery shopper tests, Operation Joseph, in collaboration with the government and medical authority, also discovered retailers who were willing to offer vapes to minors.

Suppliers who are found to be supplying vapes to minors would face immediate fines of $200 under the new possible limits.

Additionally, the bill will forbid smoking in parks, hospitals, and schools; but, following a strong pushback from the hospitality industry, beer gardens will be exempt.

According to Wes Streeting, if immediate action is not taken, the number of kids vaping is increasing at an alarming rate, and we will have a generation of kids who are addicted for life.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives kids and teens the safeguards they need to prevent a life trapped in addiction.

It is crucial that it be voted through because of this.

The National Trading Standards chair, Lord Michael Bichard, stated: The truth is that more has to be done to stop the selling of more unlawful and frequently hazardous goods.

Despite being a free vote, it is anticipated to easily pass its first Commons reading.

This demonstrates how many dangerous and unlawful vapes are on our streets, endangering both consumers and children, said Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne.

Conservative opposition to bill

When Rishi Sunakand first presented the bill, it was opposed by ardent conservatives but supported by doctors, charities, and Labour.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Tory Party, will vote against the Bill, just as she did when it was initially introduced in Parliament.

“Kemi acted on her convictions by voting against the Bill once before,” her spokesperson stated. She will vote against the bill once more because Labour has made it more worse.

According to a recent Yonder poll conducted for the smoking advocacy group Forest, 60% of participants said that if 18-year-olds are able to vote and purchase alcohol, they should also be able to purchase cigarettes.

According to director Simon Clark, a generational ban on tobacco sales is needlessly polarizing since it will establish a two-tiered society where certain people have rights that are different from those of others.