The British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the government to stop what it has called a “growing epidemic of vape use in the UK”.

With vape use among children and young people increasing almost six-fold in the last decade, a BMA report has indicated that one of the most dominant factors influencing this rise is the widespread availability of disposable vapes.

In the report, the BMA has proposed a series of actions needed to stem the trend of increased vaping, particularly among children and young people and those who have never smoked.

The previous Conservative government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in March 2024, which set out proposals to regulate the sale of vapes. The BMA noted that this was not carried forward into the new parliamentary session.

The Labour government re-introduced a bill aimed at tackling smoking and youth vaping during the king’s speech in July 2024, but there are no further details of any measures that will be taken.

In the report ‘Taking our breath away: why we need stronger regulation of vapes’, the BMA outlined what legislation should include to tackle rising vape use, especially among children and young people.

The recommendations included:

  • Banning the commercial sale of disposable vapes on the grounds of disproportionate and harmful use by children and young people and their adverse impact on the environment
  • Banning all non-tobacco vape flavours
  • Prohibiting the use of all imagery, colouring and branding for both the packaging and vape device, similar to current restrictions on cigarettes
  • Further restrictions on all advertising and marketing, including vapes being taken off display in shops
  • Government education campaigns for the public on the dangers of vaping to reduce appeal, especially among children and young people

David Strain, chair of the BMA’s board of science, said, “There is no denying we are living in a vaping epidemic. Vape usage has risen hugely in the last decade, with one in 10 adults now vaping.

“As a doctor, I understand the role vapes can play in helping people to stop smoking, but they have no rightful place in our children and young people’s lives, and when it comes to protecting their health, we cannot afford to gamble.

“An industry so obviously targeting children with colours, flavours and branding, to push a product that can lead to nicotine addiction and potential further harms cannot be allowed to happen any longer.”

While the BMA has recognised that vapes can be a useful tool in helping some people to stop smoking cigarettes, the World Health Foundation has declared them harmful.

Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, with nicotine having the potential to cause health problems such as high blood pressure and increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

When combined with the rising number of children and young people trying and smoking vapes, the BMA has said the government must take action.

Penelope Toff, chair of the BMA’s public health medicine committee, said, “The last government made significant progress putting forward a bill that included a ban on disposable vapes, and plans to regulate flavours and marketing. This new government must now ensure these measures are carried through into legislation – and it would do well to go even further.

“We are calling on ministers to take bold and brave actions that will make a real difference, like banning all vape flavours other than tobacco, so that the grip these products have on our children and young people is released, while still ensuring they remain an option to help some people stop smoking.”

References available on request.

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