UK government cracks down on e-cigarettes

In the UK, the government is drawing up proposals to tighten regulations on e-cigarettes, with the aim of protecting younger generations. While the outlines of the next law are not yet fully defined, it could introduce a ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

This draft regulation is part of a draft law on tobacco and nicotine products, which already provides for thegradual increase in the age of prohibition of sale tobacco. This provision will introduce into practice an impossibility for the generation born from 1^er January 2009 that tobacco products be legally sold to him[1].

Flavors, packaging, appearance, taxation: government evaluates different options

E-cigarettes, which have long been subject to favourable regulation in the United Kingdom, have seen their use increase rapidly in recent years, particularly among young people. Recent data shows that 7.2% of young people aged 11 to 17 report using e-cigarettes occasionally or regularly, compared to 4.1% in 2020, an increase of 43% in three years. As a result, despite highlighting the role that e-cigarettes can play in helping people quit smoking, the government has said it is considering options to curb the use of e-cigarettes, by introducing restrictions on the flavours available, the appearance of the products, or their packaging. For her part, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, has expressed her desire to tackle the “scourge of vaping”. At the same time, the tax tool is also being considered to stem the consumption of electronic cigarettes, since the Treasury must also respond shortly to a consultation on the advisability of a new "tax on vapes". The amount of This tax should depend the nicotine content of liquids: one pound sterling per 10 millilitres for nicotine-free liquids, two pounds sterling per 10 ml for liquids containing 0.1 to 10.9 milligrams, and three pounds sterling per 10 ml for liquids containing 11 mg or more.

UK Prime Minister backs ban on puffs

The British Medical Association, for its part, has called for a ban on all e-cigarette flavours except tobacco. This proposal echoes the request of the National Committee against Smoking, in France, and is already being implemented in a growing number of European Union legislations. Furthermore, the British Medical Association recommends the generalisation of plain packaging for electronic cigarettes, the banning of any image, brand and colours for the devices themselves, the banning of displays for these products (display ban), as well as the ban on disposable e-cigarettes. On this last point, the government also mentioned that it is currently considering the advisability of such a measure. Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had already spoken out in favour of banning disposable e-cigarettes, pointing the finger at the previous government for its inaction on the matter.

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[1] I news, Vaping ban in indoor public places being looked at by ministers, 01/09/2024, (accessed 04/09/2024)