Teenagers Using Liquid E-Cigarettes Triple... UK Moves to Ban Sales Completely

Ban on Disposable E-Cigarettes for Those Born After 2009
Prime Minister Sunak Continues Vision for a 'Non-Smoking Generation'

The UK government, which is planning to create a 'smoke-free generation' for the future, has introduced a bill banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes to teenagers. On the 28th (local time), according to the British daily The Times and others, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “The number of teenage e-cigarette smokers is increasing day by day. We decided to take action before e-cigarettes become widespread,” adding, “As Prime Minister, I have a duty to do what I believe is right in the long term.”

Last year, the UK government introduced a smoking reduction plan that prohibits teenagers born after 2009 from legally purchasing cigarettes even when they become adults. The legal age for buying cigarettes will be raised by one year annually, aiming to completely end smoking among this group by 2040. At the time, Prime Minister Sunak explained, “Four out of five smokers start smoking before they turn 20. Most try to quit, but many fail due to addiction,” adding, “This is a way to prevent the main cause of health damage.”

This measure is also an extension of the smoking reduction plan, and it is expected that next week, measures to ban the use of liquid-type e-cigarettes altogether will be prepared. However, there is strong opposition from the industry and others to the government's tough reduction plan, and the parliamentary vote is expected to be postponed until the end of the year. The government plans to first submit e-cigarette regulations to the House of Lords, including a ban on flavorings, restrictions on in-store displays, and the implementation of plain packaging.

Serious Youth Smoking Issue in the UK... Opposition Citing "Infringement of Freedom"

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Youth smoking in the UK has become a serious social issue since COVID-19. According to the anti-smoking organization ‘ASH,’ about 20% of British teenagers aged 11 to 17 tried e-cigarettes last year. This is a sharp increase from 14% in 2020. There is also analysis showing that the number of teenagers using liquid-type e-cigarettes has tripled over the past three years.

Regarding this bill, Michael Makin, Vice President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said, “Bold measures have always been necessary to curb e-cigarette use among teenagers,” and evaluated it as “a meaningful bill moving in the right direction.” It is also assessed that reducing the 5 million discarded e-cigarettes across the UK every week could lessen the harmful environmental impact.

However, even within the Conservative Party, voices opposing the bill have emerged, citing infringement on freedom and diversity. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss argued against the bill, saying, “It will create an unreasonable situation where adults have different rights based on their birth year,” and insisted, “The Conservative government should no longer create a ‘nanny state’ (a state that overprotects its citizens).” Additionally, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) strongly opposed the bill, stating, “The government’s desperate attempt to sacrifice only smokers to gain votes will instead lead to an increase in smoking rates.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.