​Linda Bauld, a professor at the University of Edinburgh and a social policy advisor to the Scottish government, has urged ministers to do more to cease underage vaping.

In May 2023, a BBC investigation revealed high levels of lead, nickel and chromium were found in vapes collected from college students. Laboratory testing showed that users could be inhaling “more than twice the daily safe amount of lead and nine times the safe amount of nickel.”

In response, Linda joined BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland show to discuss teenage vaping. She said, “We've really driven smoking rates down to very low levels in young people, and we don't want them using these addictive products."

“We know that legal products are hugely less harmful than smoking, but there's a good reason why they're restricted.

“Kids that are using these contraband elicit vapes probably have no idea where they come from or the fact that actually they're being exposed to things at higher levels than even in the legal vapes."

"If kids are using these, particularly for extended periods, it will harm their health.

"I think the disposable vapes, in particular, are a problem. They’re incredibly cheap, they are very attractive, and they are so marketing in particular ways."

An NHS survey of secondary pupils (11-15 years old) in 2022 revealed a rise in adolescent vaping from six per cent in 2018 to nine per cent in 2022. Of these, 57 per cent had successfully purchased a vape from a shop.

Linda added, "Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water, we don't want to ban these as some countries have done, but we do need to take some action that will level out which I think is tipping slightly towards the too attractive to young people.”

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