Crackdown On Illegal Sale Of Vapes But All Vapes Are Very Dangerous

9th April 2023

Bold new measures to combat rising levels of youth vaping expected to be announced.

A new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad' - backed by £3 million of government funding - to be formed to enforce rules on vaping and tackle illegal sales of vapes to under-18s.

Call for Evidence also launched to identify opportunities to stop children vaping.

The government is expected to unveil tough new measures to combat the illegal sale of vapes to under-18s as part of its plans to reduce smoking and tackle youth vaping.

In his speech at Policy Exchange on Tuesday 11 April, Health Minister Neil O'Brien is expected to announce a new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad' - backed by £3 million of government funding - to enforce the rules on vaping and tackle illicit vapes and underage sales.

Working across the country, the enforcement squad led by Trading Standards will share knowledge and intelligence across regional networks and local authorities.

It will undertake specific projects such as test purchasing in convenience stores and vape shops. It will also produce guidance to help build regulatory compliance, and will have the power to remove illegal products from shops and at our borders.

The minister is also expected to announce the launch of a Call for Evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes, while ensuring they remain available as a quit aid for adult smokers.

It will explore topical issues such as the marketing and promotion of vapes and the environmental impact of disposable products.

Health Minister Neil O'Brien said, "Smoking kills, so our priority is to prevent people smoking, and support them to quit. We remain committed to our ambition to be smokefree by 2030.

However, while vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, we are concerned about the rise in youth vaping, particularly the increasing use of disposable vaping products.

The new illicit vapes enforcement squad will work across the country and clamp down on those businesses who sell vapes to children - which is illegal - and get them hooked on nicotine. Our Call for Evidence will also allow us to get a firm understanding of the steps we can take to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes.

Smoking prevalence in England in 2021 was 13.0%, the lowest on record, thanks to measures such as doubling duty on cigarettes since 2010 and continued funding to local stop smoking services. In 2021-22, £68 million of funding from the public health grant was spent on stop smoking services by local authorities, and nearly 100,000 people quit with the support of a stop smoking service.

In addition, £35 million was committed to the NHS last year so that all smokers admitted to hospital will be offered NHS-funded tobacco treatment services.

Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful ingredients, including:
ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
volatile organic compounds.
heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
Propylene glycol - a common additive in food; also used to make things like antifreeze, paint solvent, and artificial smoke in fog machines.

Can your lungs heal from vaping?
Lung disease: Vaping can make asthma and other existing lung diseases worse. Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death.

Is vape bad for your teeth?
Nicotine is a stimulant and can promote tooth grinding. Tooth grinding slowly wears away tooth enamel. This makes your teeth more susceptible to chips, cracks and cavities. As vaping dries the mouth, it can also cause bad breath.

Can dentists tell if you vape?
The answer is yes. While some people switch from smoking to vaping because they may think vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, studies show that it is just bad for your teeth and gums. Vaping has the same adverse effects on your oral health as smoking and your dentist WILL be able to tell.

What are long term side effects of vaping?
Common side effects of vaping include dry mouth, coughing, nausea and headaches. Serious long-term side effects of vaping include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, lung damage, lung disease, seizures, and nicotine addiction and poisoning.

How long does nicotine stay in your system?
Generally, nicotine will leaves your blood within 1 to 3 days after you stop using tobacco, and cotinine will be gone after 1 to 10 days. Neither nicotine nor cotinine will be detectable in your urine after 3 to 4 days of stopping tobacco products.

How long does it take to recover from vaping?
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in between 4 and 24 hours after a person last vaped. The symptoms peak around day three of abstinence and then gradually subside over the following three to four weeks.

Will my lungs heal if I stop vaping?
Quitting allows blood circulation to improve and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack. After quitting, your lungs begin to heal, restoring lung capacity and the ability to fight infection. Soon you'll be coughing less and breathing easier — especially during physical activity.

Can your lungs fully recover from vaping?
Lung disease: Vaping can make asthma and other existing lung diseases worse. Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death.

Chemicals in e-cigarettes include:
Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde
These chemicals are known to cause cancer.
Acrolein
A weed killer that can cause irreversible lung damage.
Benzene
A compound found in car exhaust. Long-term exposure may cause blood problems and cancer of blood-forming organs, such as leukemia.
Cadmium
Toxic metal that increases the risk of breathing problems such as chronic obstructive lung disease and emphysema. It's also found in traditional cigarettes.
Diacetyl
Chemical compound used to give food a buttery flavor. Studies link inhaling it to lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung."
Diethylene glycol
Clear odorless liquid with a sweet taste typically found in industrial products such as antifreeze. It's used as a base in e-liquids. It's toxic and is linked to lung disease.
Nickel, tin, lead and other heavy metals
Heavy metal toxicity may damage functioning of lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and other organs.
Nicotine
A highly addictive chemical that can affect the heart and breathing.
Propylene glycol
A clear, odorless liquid that's used as antifreeze and a food addictive. It’s used as a base in e-liquids. It turns to vapor when heated but may produce propylene oxide, a known carcinogen.

Harmful Chemicals in Flavored Vape Juice
There are more than 7,000 vape juice flavors available to e-cigarette users, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Some of these are considered safe in typical food products when eaten, but may be harmful when inhaled in aerosol form.

A 2015 study conducted by Harvard University researchers found that many different flavorings added to e-liquids in e-cigarettes contain chemicals that may be harmful to users’ long-term health.