UK Government May Draft New Rules to Curb vaping devices Spreading on Campuses

As the government concludes its consultation on youth vaping, the BBC explores the impact of e-cigarettes in schools, highlighting the increasing prevalence of vaping, its effects on learning, and the measures schools are taking, including the introduction of vaping alarms.

“You find them asking to leave the classroom to go to the restroom,” said Sad Afuorabi, a teacher in Surrey and spokesperson for the NASUWT teaching union.

“This is harmful because when you calculate the lost time, it is quite a significant loss for learning,” she added.

A recent survey by the anti-smoking organization ASH found that 20.5% of children aged 11 to 17 have tried vaping, up from 15.8% in 2022.

Many schools have introduced vaping alarms to detect whether students are using e-cigarettes in the restroom.

Ashley Crittenden, chair of the Kent Association of Headteachers, said: “It is important for schools to have strict policies; some schools now do have vaping alarms, and I think they are effective.

“While suspensions can be an effective tool for managing behavior, the real goal is to change mindsets and behaviors, and young people can easily access e-cigarettes. I think it really depends on the government making some very tough decisions,” she added.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to impose taxes on e-cigarettes and strengthen restrictions to curb youth vaping.

Proposals under consideration include:

• Limiting flavors to tobacco or tobacco and menthol only
• Prohibiting display in stores, so e-cigarettes remain hidden, similar to cigarettes
• Introducing plain packaging, stopping the use of cartoon and animal images
• Prohibiting disposable e-cigarettes
• E-cigarettes are already subject to VAT, but a new tax is proposed to make e-cigarettes more expensive.

A group of teenagers from East Sussex youth clubs stated that vaping is becoming increasingly popular among their age group.

Thirteen-year-old Sapphire said: “Everyone is always vaping. You see it everywhere, and if you walk into the girls' restroom, you’ll find smoke everywhere.”