Children Vaping - When are we going to do something?

[dhutch]

Never start vaping, says 12-year-old girl with lung damage.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67081855

You get a fine for not wearing your seatbelt, we can't buy coal because it dangerous to health, there is talk about raising the age of tobacco sales annually till nobody can buy them, and yet a huge number of or young children are binging on disposable vapes, likely more often the unregulated ones from back street outlets rather than brand name ones from mainstream retailers.

Our first child is now quite two, so maybe it will be sorted in time for them, but whenever I go to a playground with her, more often than not if there is a small group of 12yo's they will have at least one vape between them. Seems to worse amongst girls than boys.

Sales of these things globally and in the UK is exploding exponentially.

Surely this is utter madness!

[dhutch]

See also:

Vapes confiscated from school pupils contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium, BBC News has found.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65614078

UK health expert raises alarm at vaping ‘epidemic’ among teenagers
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/18/uk...

Vaping: How popular are e-cigarettes?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44295336

Rise in teenage vaping, as drug use falls - survey.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62807001

Edited by dhutch on Thursday 12th October 12:27

[dundarach]

We?

You mean parents right?

[dhutch]

Parents, but also the government.

[sunnyb13]

Smoking a coloured usb stick. Lovely

[lrdisco]

The most chavvy thing possible.
They suck on them like a demented toddler on it’s dummy.

[dhutch]

It's not glamorous to me, but theb I didn't smoke in my teens either.

However it's far from only the lower classes who are vaping, from what I see it's kids of all backgrounds and ages.

[Challo]

They made cigarettes plain package and no longer on show in shops and they need to do the same for vapes.

[deckster]

Challo said:

They made cigarettes plain package and no longer on show in shops and they need to do the same for vapes.

This. Currently they are sold alongside the sweet aisle and this needs to stop.

[sunnyb13]

big tobacco know what they are doing. since they can't target adults with cigarettes why not tap into the market for kids smoking instead.

[phil-sti]

As a parent I have told my lad if he vapes or smokes that every single item that he has in our will be smashed up and binned. Simple as that, awful habit.

[Pieman68]

I definitely see the argument for regulation here. I'm a smoker, who has cut down considerably by using a vape.

I use an open system, with a refillable tank, rechargeable battery etc. and buy the same liquids repeatedly as some cause irritation in the throat.

The main issue is the marketing. The bright colours, sweet flavours etc. are an abhorrent practise (although I do use menthol personally) but the other issue is the shameful wastage and the fire risk. The amount of lithium being consumed and discarded, and the risk of bin and landfill fires is quite frightening and there is no regulation or education around this. The recycling facilities to allow for correct disposal locally to me consists of a bin in the local supermarket - where I believe that everywhere that sells them should have a disposal point.

There's also the cost of the closed systems. My tank cost me £30 two years ago and my battery was £40 around 3 years ago. With my system I replace my coil every 10-14 days (cost around £10 for a 5 pack) and my liquids last 3-4 weeks at £11 (5 bottles), so realistically my vaping costs me around £15 per month. The question has to be asked where the kids are getting the money for these at £5 each , as they only last a couple of days (and £5 is the cheap version).

Ban the colours, ban the flavours, ban them being displayed on the counter top (a la sweets by the checkouts) and insist on correct recycling by all outlets that stock them. There is also an argument for making them prescription only - although I believe enough of the large tobacco firms are on the bandwagon now for this to be very unlikely

[Zaichik]

sunnyb13 said:

big tobacco know what they are doing. since they can't target adults with cigarettes why not tap into the market for kids smoking instead.

except it isn't big tobacco anymore - most of these disposable vapes are new companies who are aggressively seeking market. The only thing Big Tobacco knows is they are losing.

[Wills2]

dhutch said:

Parents, but also the government.

They have also banned crime but it doesn't seem to work either, you have to be over 18 to buy them, what else do you want the government to do? (on top of everything else that people are calling for them to do)

[Silvanus]

Wills2 said:

dhutch said:

Parents, but also the government.

They have also banned crime but it doesn't seem to work either, you have to be over 18 to buy them, what else do you want the government to do? (on top of everything else that people are calling for them to do)

Marketing obviously aimed at youngsters, huge vape shops/cafes, vape advertising, visible branding, online sales, cheap single use. Stop these for a start.

[Super Sonic]

Zaichik said:

except it isn't big tobacco anymore - most of these disposable vapes are new companies who are aggressively seeking market. The only thing Big Tobacco knows is they are losing.

Aren't these new companies aliases fronts and shell companies for big tobacco companies? And those that aren't, where do they get their nicotine. Of course it's big tobacco companies and their lobby groups. Their huge profits are being strangled and they are desperate to maintain income.

[Zoon]

I saw a kid walking to school who could have been no more than 11.
He was unable to take two steps without a puff on his vape. Addicted beyond belief.

[Silvanus]

Never having smoked or gaped, what is it that nicotine does to you. How does it compare to say a pint of beer or a double espresso, or even strong opioid painkillers. I have no idea how nicotine makes you feel. I'm assuming these kids think it's the flavours they are enjoying when actually it's highly addictive nicotine that's doing it.

[GilletteFan]

Vapers should be fined on the spot. Horrible product and take the place of the smartphone to calm nerves it seems. Young eople are a fidgety bunch.

[WhiskyDisco]

It's not just kids. I was dropping my 19 year old son at Uni and my wife was giving him a lecture on looking after himself, not being swayed by others, saying no to things that he should be saying no to. The subject of vapes came up and she said that he must never ever use them as she is paying him an allowance she will not be paying him to vape, etc.

Incredibly he thought it was acceptable to reply "but everyone vapes Mum".

I was fuming. Spening our allowance on drinks down the student union is one thing, but vaping?! This is supposed to be an inteligent young person studying medicine. What a moron.