UK Shadow Minister for Children: ban the marketing of e-cigarettes to children

Helen Hayes, the UK Labour MP and Shadow Minister for Children, stated that banning the sale of e-cigarettes with bright packaging and branding will protect children from addiction and reduce the number of young people using e-cigarettes.

According to a report by the BBC on September 6, Helen Hayes emphasized that banning the sale of e-cigarettes with bright packaging and branding will protect children from addiction and reduce the number of young people using e-cigarettes. 

Helen Hayes | Image source: Personal homepage 

The legal age for purchasing and using e-cigarettes in the UK is 18, and the government is considering fines for stores that illegally sell e-cigarettes to those under 18. 

Hayes told MPs that some e-cigarette products are clearly aimed at children, and "the numbers are very concerning." She emphasized that banning these products will reduce the number of users. 

Hayes stated that e-cigarette shops sell products that mimic well-known brands, such as Oreo cookies, or are named after candies like gummy bears, Skittles, and fruit-flavored candies, as well as products with cartoon designs. 

She warned that if action is not taken, "we can expect a generation of young people to become addicted to e-cigarettes, which could follow them for life." 

Bans on cigarette advertising, branding, and in-store displays have significantly reduced tobacco sales and youth smoking rates. 

Hayes advocates for similar restrictions on e-cigarettes, stating that there is no need to use brightly colored branding to market smoking cessation products. 

Although e-cigarettes are far less harmful than cigarettes, she told MPs that they are not "harmless," as 40 children were hospitalized last year due to issues related to e-cigarettes.

The UK Department of Health and Social Care stated that they have implemented some regulations to prevent minors from vaping, such as restricting e-cigarette sales to those over 18, limiting nicotine content, restricting the size of refill bottles and tanks, and limiting advertising.

The Shadow Minister is a position in the UK political party system typically held by senior MPs from the opposition party. The role involves overseeing the relevant government departments, proposing policy suggestions from the opposition party, and representing the opposition in parliamentary debates. Their title usually mirrors that of actual government ministers but includes the term "shadow" to indicate they do not hold a position in government.