Vaping Policy Review

This report is a policy review of Asthma + Lung UK's position on vaping in the UK.

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Using e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, is an effective tool for adults to use to stop smoking. Evidence indicates that vapes are less harmful than tobacco, but we do not recommend that anyone uses e-cigarettes unless they are trying to stop smoking. Vapes are not risk-free and can affect your lungs and overall health. More research is needed on how long-term vaping can affect your lungs and overall health, but until then we wanted to explore our current policy position on vaping. 

This policy review sets out our position on:

  • Under-18s vaping;
  • Disposable vapes;
  • Communicating the harms of vaping; 
  • Support for people to stop vaping.

The issue

Whilst vapes can be a useful smoking cessation tool, there is growing concern about the number of young people, and non-smokers, starting to vape. This is being driven by their pocket money prices, colourful packaging, and candy-inspired flavour options. This is concerning because vaping is not risk-free: it can cause inflammation in the airways, and our supporters have told us it is also a trigger for their lung condition. Nicotine exposure can also damage the developing brain which is why the rise in youth vaping is particularly concerning.

Many countries have taken different approaches to vaping, with some countries banning them completely, such as Brazil and India. Others have put strict regulations in place, such as Australia who have made vapes only available via a prescription. The UK government set out a consultation on smoking and vaping in October 2023 to help shape legislation for the UK.

The solution

To reduce the number of under-18s vaping, we have made 9 recommendations:

  1. Immediate implementation of a minimum floor price for all vaping products so they are less affordable for children.
  2. Banning vape flavours that appeal to children.
  3. Restrictions on the advertising of tobacco should be extended to include vapes.  
  4. Immediate closure of the loophole that allows vapes to be given to children for free.
  5. Improving Trading Standards enforcement powers.
  6. National public health campaigns communicating the harms of vaping to under-18s.
  7. More research into how best to support those looking to quit vaping.
  8. Transform smoking cession services into broader nicotine dependency services.
  9. Continued monitoring and evaluation of the impact of these policies, and if they are found to be ineffective at reducing the rates of under-18s vaping, then a ban on disposable vapes should be considered.