Northern Ireland

Ban all vapes for under 21s, says NI health charity

A ban on disposable vapes has already been approved, but Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke say all vapes should be outlawed for under 21s

Top doctors have called for legislation aimed at tackling youth vaping to include a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes and all flavours apart from tobacco
A ban on disposable vapes is already on the way in Northern Ireland, but a health charity has said all vaping should now be banned for under 21s. (Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA)
By Allan Preston

A health charity in Northern Ireland has called for a ban on vapes for under 21s.

In line with the rest of the UK, the Stormont assembly has already approved a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in Northern Ireland, due to become law in June.

Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke has said this should go even further, calling for a ban on all vapes for anyone below 21.

“The assembly is to be congratulated for banning disposable vapes and we look forward to this ban coming into force in June, however, we must do more to protect young people”, said Neil Johnston, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, at NICHS.

“As a charity we are regularly in schools across Northern Ireland speaking to children about healthy living – and we are inundated with requests for information on how to tackle the scourge of vaping.”

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The charity say vapes should only be used as a short-term measure to help existing smokers quit.

“We also believe that, given the increasing concerns about cardiovascular and respiratory health and vaping, we need to do more to protect young people.”

He said the proposal would mean there as no reason for any young people at secondary school in Northern Ireland to have vapes, and it would help councils in their enforcement activity.

“To date, Northern Ireland has largely just followed what has been done in Great Britain,” Mr Johnston said.

“The assembly should show leadership on this issue for the sake of the health of our young people.”

Stormont’s health committee has also approved plans for the assembly to consider a Legislative Consent Motion relating to the Tobacco and Vaping Bill which is currently progressing through parliament at Westminster.

“We welcome the committee’s support for this,” Mr Johnston said.

“The Tobacco and Vaping Bill contains a range of valuable measures – including a ban on vaping manufacturers using flavours and colours which are designed to attract young people and the radical move to essentially ban any born after January 2009 from buying cigarettes.”

“We hope the assembly will vote for Northern Ireland to be included in this bill. This will ensure our children receive the same protection as children in the rest of the UK.”

Further information about available at the NICHS website at www.nichs.org.uk/vaping