Schools in South Yorkshire hoping the disposable vape ban will 'save lives'
It comes into force from the 1st June 2025
Teachers across South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire are hoping the disposable vape ban will 'save the lives' of young people.
From Sunday - it'll be illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes.
Michael Burnell - who runs a vape store - is in support of the new legislation:
"We think that disposables are too accessible - even non-smokers are buying them!
"Anything that mimics a sweet should be restricted. The marketing aimed at young people shouldn't have ever been allowed to happen.
"Disposable vapes are 20mg of nicotine - which is the highest amount allowed in the UK.
"If you are looking to cut that down, go to a reputable vape store and they can offer you a sustainable device & help you cut that nicotine down.
"A £200 fine won't be too much of a disruption to those businesses to do want to keep selling these products illegally; that's the one thing we aren't happy about.
"Banning them will help the environment and a standard vape kit is drastically more expensive than a typical disposable; so we're hoping it's not affordable for those in the underage market."
Katie Crook is the Associate Vice Principal at Penistone Grammar School.
She doesn't want it to lead to more young people going back to cigarettes:
"We hope it doesn't force young people to revert to more traditional means of smoking.
"Equally, we hope that other agencies will jump on top of this ban to help promote more positive, healthy lifestyles for young people.
"Vaping does really target young people - especially the disposable, flavoured ones with their bright colours.
"We know it's a huge issue; especially with the disposable ones being easier to purchase & just throw away.
"Hopefully, this new legislation will deter young people from even trying to purchase disposable vapes in future at all.
"We really hope it helps save young people's lives.
"The chemicals which can potentially be put in them are so dangerous.
"We hope this new ban can help improve the health of our precious young people."
Retailers caught selling disposable vapes from the 1st June will be fined at least £200.
The government has also designed it to tackle waste and the impact of vapes on the environment.