NHS plans vaping crackdown by restricting the number of flavours and adverts that appeal to children
NHS plans crackdown on vaping: Restrictions on flavors and advertising appealing to children are needed as number of young people hospitalized after using e-cigarettes quadruples in two years, experts warn
- NHS chief Amanda Pritchard described it as ‘seriously concerning’
The NHS is trying to clamp down on vaping by restricting flavors and advertisements that appeal to children after the number of young people hospitalized by vaping quadrupled in two years.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, described the rise in hospital admissions among young people as ‘seriously concerning’.
Due to the growing number of hospital admissions, ministers believe that restricting flavors and banning disposable aids are ideal measures to impose.
A ban on sports sponsorship deals is also said to be on the agenda, as well as licenses for e-cigarette retailers.
New rules look increasingly likely in the coming months, according to Whitehall sources, though no decisions have been made yet The times.
The NHS is trying to crack down on vaping by restricting flavors and advertisements that appeal to children after the number of young people hospitalized by vaping quadrupled in two years (File image)
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard described the increase in hospital admissions among young people as ‘seriously concerning’
Ms Pritchard also attacked companies for ‘deliberately’ targeting young people with attractive tastes.
Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, Ms Pritchard said there were 40 admissions last year for ‘vaping-related conditions’ among patients under the age of 20 – up from 11 two years earlier.
Typical conditions are lung damage or worsening of asthma symptoms. Her comments come after the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health warned that ‘vaping by young people is fast becoming an epidemic among children’ and called for a ban on disposable vapes.
It added that e-cigarettes “are not a risk-free product and can be just as, if not more, addictive than traditional cigarettes.”
It called for urgent action to protect children, saying experts agree that long-term data is needed on the effects of vaping, particularly with regard to cardiovascular disease.
Ms Pritchard told the conference of health leaders: ‘The report last week from the RCPCH of children presenting in hospital with conditions that may be related to vaping was really concerning.
“While vaping may seem harmless to many young people with appealing flavors — at least two people in every year ten class have vaped — using it can lead to lung damage.
The RCPCH is right to call for action and the government is right to take those calls seriously.”
Hazel Cheeseman, deputy general manager of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Swift action is needed by the government to limit youth vaping and preserve the opportunity for adults to use vaping as an aid to cessation.”