UK Government Crackdown on Underage Vaping: Closing Loophole and Reviewing Rules

The government also plans to review rules on the sale of nicotine-free products to under-18s and to review fines for shops selling illicit vapes.

The government is concerned about the rise in vaping among children, with some children becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping.

The government plans to strengthen marketing rules and to look at ways to end the practice of marketing vapes to children.

The chief medical officer has called the decision to close the loophole a "very welcome step." The UK government is developing an educational resource pack for schools to inform children aged 11-13 about the addictiveness of nicotine and the potential harm it can cause.

The move comes after the government established a vape enforcement squad to increase education about the dangers of vaping in schools and remove e-cigarettes from children.

Health minister Neil O'Brien called the marketing of vaping products to children "shameful" and stated that the government will review the rules around vaping to prevent it from being a gateway to using other nicotine products like cigarettes.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting argued that the government needs to take urgent action to prevent a new generation of children from getting hooked on nicotine.

The Chartered Trading Institute welcomed the government's announcement and stated that measures to reduce the accessibility of vaping and make it less attractive to non-smoking young people are necessary.

Campaigners argue that a bolder approach with taxation is needed to make vapes less affordable, while continuing to promote them as an option for adult smokers wanting to quit the habit.