Vaping: Stormont can decide on introducing new ban in Northern Ireland

Preparations are set to be made allowing Stormont to introduce measures intended to reduce vaping among young people.

It follows the announcement of a ban on disposable vapes in England, Wales and Scotland - and a ban on tobacco products for people born in or after 2009.

In a statement, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland said that "in accordance with the provisions that are available" it would make the necessary preparations to allow incoming Ministers and the NI Assembly to take a decision on introducing the regulations.

it comes after the publication of the outcome of the UK-wide consultation ‘Creating a smoke-free generation and tackling youth vaping’.

The consultation closed on 6 December and received 27,921 responses, including more than 1,200 from Northern Ireland.

The Department said: "The consultation report shows strong support for the proposed measures across the UK and particularly in Northern Ireland."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was set to announce the plan to implement the ban - using powers already in place under the Environmental Protection Act - which is expected to come into force at the end of 2024 or the start of 2025, during a visit to a school on Monday.

New data shows the number of children vaping in the last three years has tripled, the Government said, adding that use among younger children is also rising, with 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds now using vapes.

Disposable vapes have been pushing the rise in youth vaping, with the proportion of 11 to 17-year-old vapers using disposables increasing almost ninefold in the last two years, it added.

New powers will also be introduced to restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children and ensure that manufacturers produce plainer packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops, moving them out of children's sight.

New £100 fines will also be brought in for shops in England and Wales which sell vapes illegally to children.