Vaping in UK Schools Surges as UKVIA Chairman Urges Brands to Rethink Marketing

Recently, news about disposable e-cigarettes in the UK has been frequently reported. Yesterday, John Dunne, chairman of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), stated that these reports have deepened public prejudice against e-cigarettes and offered suggestions for brands operating in the UK.

【Original from Two Supremes】Recently, news about disposable e-cigarettes in the UK has been frequently reported, focusing mainly on rampant use in schools, misleading product flavors, and marketing strategies targeting minors. In response, John Dunne, chairman of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), stated in an email interview on October 9 that these reports have intensified public bias against e-cigarettes. He also provided some recommendations for e-cigarette brands in the UK. 

According to a report by Sky News on October 6, e-cigarette use in UK schools has become rampant. For example, one school installed e-cigarette sensors in the bathrooms, which triggered 112 alerts on the first day of installation. This school has 1,000 students, with the youngest caught using e-cigarettes being only 11 years old. 

Earlier, ABC News also reported on the issue of e-cigarettes in schools. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the government would introduce measures to restrict the availability of e-cigarettes. In the UK, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to children under 18. However, officials have indicated that the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has tripled in the past three years, with more children using e-cigarettes than smoking traditional cigarettes. The government will consider options including restricting flavored e-cigarettes and adjusting product packaging and store displays to reduce their appeal to young people. 

According to ABC News, after Sunak announced strict controls on e-cigarette sales, the stock prices of British American Tobacco fell by 1%, and Imperial Brands' stock price dropped by 2.4%.

In response to the recent surge in e-cigarette issues, Two Supremes sent an interview email to the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) on October 8, inquiring about countermeasures. On October 9, chairman John Dunne replied, stating, "Indeed, there have been many such reports circulating recently. Teen vaping is currently a hot topic among UK regulators and the media. These media reports have created a very unfavorable perception of the e-cigarette industry." 

Dunne reminded e-cigarette brands not to illegally import e-cigarettes into the UK; to reassess the packaging of their products, avoiding designs featuring cartoon characters or overly appealing to young people; and to carefully check the flavor names they are using, avoiding names associated with well-known candies. Additionally, companies must stop posting illegal advertisements on social media, especially on platforms like TikTok, where children frequently use them.