Could Flavored Vaping Devices Be Restricted in the UK?

On October 16, news from ABC reported that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed at the Conservative Party conference that the legal age for purchasing tobacco in England should increase by one year each year until it is considered illegal for the entire population, hoping to prevent youth from engaging in such behavior.

Sunak announced this plan at the annual Conservative Party conference, stating that he hopes to prevent young people from starting to smoke. Currently, it is illegal to sell cigarettes or tobacco products to anyone under 18 across the UK. Sunak's office stated that under this gradual increase, children aged 14 and under this year will not be able to legally purchase cigarettes in England. If Parliament approves the proposal, this legal change will only apply in England, not in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. Sunak also stated that the government will introduce measures to restrict the availability of e-cigarettes. In the UK, it is currently illegal to sell e-cigarettes to children under 18, but officials have noted that the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has tripled in the past three years, with more children now using e-cigarettes than smoking. The government will consider options including restricting flavored e-cigarettes and adjusting packaging and store displays to reduce the appeal of products to young people. Following Sunak's announcement, British American Tobacco shares fell by 1%, while Imperial Brands' stock dropped by 2.4% after his speech.