A ban on disposable vapes could be introduced across England as soon as next week to help protect children. 

Ministers are reportedly set to discuss a proposed ban as early as next week after a series of calls to make selling the disposable devices illegal.

Disposable vapes are often sold in bright colours and in flavours such as bubblegum, pink lemonade and gummy bear which ministers are concerned are targetting those aged under 18.

GB News presenter and political specialist Andrew Pierce, speaking on Good Morning Britain said there was a vape shop near his place, and its "like a sweet shop".

He added: "When you see flavours like bubblegum, they're not aimed at 25-year-olds, they're aimed at teenagers and they're a gateway to nicotine its terrible." 

Decision on banning disposable vapes to be made next week

The decision to ban disposable vapes will be revealed in a consultation issued by the Health Department penciled in for next week according to The Telegraph.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan did not deny the reports a ban on vapes was being discussed.

Speaking to Sky News, she said: “We have been looking into this and have been doing a review because this is a very worrying trend that we’re seeing of young children taking up vaping that had never smoked before, and it is extremely dangerous to their health and their wellbeing.

“It’s something that we do need to act on and, as a Government, what we’re trying to do is recognise what are the key challenges and grip them.”

Asked whether the Government will be banning single-use vapes next week, she said: “We’ll be making further announcements on that.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has previously spoken out about disposable vapes raising concerns about the risks they pose to children like his daughters.

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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has previously called for a ban on disposable vapes as it warned that “youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children”.

The College warned that e-cigarettes “are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes”.

Earlier this month figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a large increase in vaping among teenagers and young adults in Britain.

In 2022 some 15.5% of 16 to 24-year-olds vaped daily or occasionally, up from 11.1% in 2021.

NHS figures also showed a rise in the number of children admitted to hospital due to vaping.