UK Government Allocates £3 Million to Set Up Enforcement Squad Targeting Illegal Vape Sales

Today, on April 9, news from the UK government’s official website shows that the UK government will formulate a plan next week to make it harder for children to illegally purchase e-cigarettes in England, establishing an enforcement squad composed of trading standards officers to conduct test purchases and crack down on stores selling e-cigarettes to those under 18.

The announcement states that the UK government is expected to introduce strict new measures to combat the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to children under 18 as part of its plan to reduce smoking and address the issue of youth vaping.

At a policy exchange meeting on Tuesday, April 11, Health Minister Neil O'Brien is expected to announce a new illegal e-cigarette enforcement squad—supported by £3 million of government funding—to enforce rules regarding e-cigarettes and combat illegal sales to minors.

The enforcement squad, led by Trading Standards, will work nationwide, sharing knowledge and intelligence between regional networks and local authorities.

It will undertake specific projects such as test purchases at convenience stores and vape shops. It will also develop guidelines to help establish compliance and will have the authority to remove illegal products from stores and borders.

The minister is also expected to announce the launch of a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children exposed to and using e-cigarettes while ensuring they remain available as a smoking cessation tool for adult smokers.

It will explore hot topics such as the marketing and promotion of e-cigarettes and the environmental impact of disposable products.

Health Minister Neil O'Brien said:

Smoking is deadly, so our top priority is to prevent people from smoking and support them in quitting. We remain committed to achieving a smoke-free goal by 2030.

However, while e-cigarettes are a more preferable alternative for adult smokers, we are concerned about the increase in youth vaping, especially the growing use of disposable e-cigarette products.

The new illegal e-cigarette enforcement squad will work nationwide to crack down on businesses that sell e-cigarettes to children (which is illegal) and allow them to consume nicotine. Our call for evidence will also enable us to gain insights into what measures we can take to reduce the number of children accessing and using e-cigarettes.

The smoking rate in England was 13.0% in 2021, the lowest on record, thanks to measures such as doubling taxes on cigarettes since 2010 and continued funding for local cessation services.

In 2021-22, local authorities used £68 million from public health grants for cessation services, with nearly 100,000 people quitting smoking with the support of these services.

Additionally, last year, £35 million was invested in the NHS to ensure that all hospitalized smokers receive NHS-funded tobacco treatment services.

In the UK, only individuals aged 18 and over can purchase e-cigarettes or vaping devices, but the government is facing increasing pressure to crack down on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to children.

NHS data from 2021 shows that the vaping rate among 11 to 15-year-olds in the UK has risen from 6% in 2018 to 9%. During the same period, the vaping rate among 15-year-old girls increased from 10% to 21%.

The public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and King's College London recently conducted a survey indicating that about one in ten (8.6%) young people in England vape occasionally or regularly.

Mr. O'Brien will speak at the policy exchange meeting on Tuesday to announce the establishment of the illegal e-cigarette enforcement squad, which will conduct projects across England, including test purchases at convenience stores and vape shops.

It will also issue guidelines on how to ensure compliance with the law and will have the authority to remove illegal products from shelves.

E-cigarettes are considered safer than regular cigarettes as they do not contain harmful tobacco and have become popular in helping people quit smoking.

However, the NHS advises that e-cigarettes are not without risks, and the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes are still unclear. Vapor may still contain small amounts of chemicals, including nicotine.

Trading Standards has previously stated that the sale of illegal e-cigarettes and the sale of e-cigarettes to children are the biggest threats facing UK high streets.

There are concerns that cheap, brightly colored e-cigarettes will eventually fall into the hands of 12 and 13-year-olds, and experts discourage young non-smokers from developing this habit.

Action on Smoking and Health calls for e-cigarette products to adopt simpler packaging to reduce their appeal to children.

ASH CEO Deborah Arnold expressed her delight that the government has finally announced funding for enforcement to address the scourge of underage sales.

She called for other obvious measures, including taxing disposable e-cigarettes to raise their cost above pocket money prices and introducing plain packaging.

The Parliament of England has also stated that e-cigarettes should be placed out of sight of children in stores and that the legal minimum age of 18 should be clearly marked on each product.

The UK e-cigarette industry association stated that the solution is to enforce existing laws on retailers rather than focusing on packaging.