In a significant move to address the increasing prevalence of vaping among young people, the UK government has announced plans to ban disposable vapes. This decision comes as figures from Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) reveal that 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds are now vaping, a notable increase from 4.1% in 2020.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the need to act against this worrying trend, particularly to protect children. The ban, expected to roll out across the UK, follows last year’s initiative to prohibit cigarette sales to individuals born on or after 1 January 2009.
The government’s focus is on disposable vapes, which are believed to be a key factor in the surge of youth vaping. These products, often in colorful packaging, are more appealing to younger audiences. The ban aims to use existing environmental protection legislation and includes measures to regulate the marketing and display of refillable vapes to make them less attractive to children.
Health leaders are tasked with ensuring these measures do not impede adult smokers from using vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking. This careful balancing act will be a critical aspect of the upcoming public consultation on the specifics of the ban.
This development highlights the role of legislation in addressing societal issues and the challenges in implementing policies that balance public health goals with the needs of different groups in society.
THINK LIKE AN ECONOMIST!
Q1. Define the term market failure.’
Q2. Explain the potential impact of banning disposable vapes on youth vaping trends in the UK.
Q3. Analyse the impact that banning disposable vapes will have on the market for vapes in the UK.
Q4. Discuss whether banning disposable vapes is the most effective way at dealing with the negative externalities associated with vaping.
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