Latest news with #Mary-AnnMcKibben
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vape ban 'helps stop children getting addicted'
The upcoming disposable vape ban will help "prevent a new generation of nicotine-addicted young people", Wales' leading public health body has said. Public Health Wales (PHW) said it was important to learn from the experience with tobacco and "work as hard as possible to prevent the use and uptake of vapes by children and young people". Single-use disposable vapes will be banned across the UK from 1 June as part of efforts to protect children's health and prevent environmental damage. The UK Vaping Industry Association has been approached for comment, but previously said a ban would increase illegal sales. Disposable vape ban in Wales to start in 2025 Why are disposable vapes being banned and how harmful is vaping? PHW said disposable vapes were "cheap, easy to use and widely available" and appealed to children. It added that most contained nicotine, which affected concentration, memory and the ability to learn when consumed regularly. Mary-Ann McKibben, consultant in public health at PHW, said: "While vaping is safer than smoking for adults, it is not risk–free and we do not yet have a comprehensive understanding of the long-term health effects." She called the ban an "important step" towards preventing a generation of young people addicted to nicotine. Data in Wales shows that 7% of people aged 11 to 16 use vapes weekly, up from 5.4% in 2021. For 15 and 16-year-olds it is 15.9%, up from 13.6%. Keep Wales Tidy estimates that 360,000 single use vapes are dropped on the floor each year, while 120,000 are flushed down the toilet. People at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Neath Port Talbot were largely supportive of the ban. Anna Sitori, 18, from Swansea, said vaping was a "real issue" that she often sees at school and parties and this would "really help crack down" on it. Steffan Thomas, 19, from Swansea, believes many of his friends who vape would stop due to the ban, but felt some could resort to smoking tobacco. In Swansea, Kyle Evans, from Aberdare, Rhonda Cynon Taf, described the ban as "ridiculous" as it was a helpful way to quit smoking. He added: "People need to put them away properly, dispose of them properly and there shouldn't be a ban." Crimestoppers said it was stepping up its efforts to combat the illegal sale of vapes in the wake of the ban because "unscrupulous vendors will continue to sell these products illegally". "These products pose serious health risks – they are unregulated, untested, and may contain dangerously high levels of nicotine and harmful substances such as lead and nickel," it said. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme when the ban was announced, John Dunne, director general of UKVIA, said authorities already struggled to tackle the black market, even without a ban. He said the association wanted the UK government to instead introduce a licensing scheme for retailers and distributors.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Single use vapes banned in Wales from this weekend
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Public Health Wales has welcomed the introduction of the ban on single use vapes, which comes into force in Wales and across the UK on Sunday 1 June. There is a clear consensus among health experts that the availability and marketing of disposable vape products has driven a significant rise in vaping among children and young people, with almost 1 in 6 (16 per cent) year eleven students regularly using vapes and nearly half having tried vaping*. Most of these young people have never smoked before taking up vaping. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox The Environmental Protection (Single Use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 will address both environmental and health concerns around the proliferation of disposable vapes. These have offered a cheap, easy to use and widely available product which has been both appealing and easily accessible to children and young people, despite it being illegal to sell nicotine vapes to under-18s, or for adults to buy them for this age group. The majority of vapes contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance and regular use can lead to cravings, as well as affecting concentration, memory and the ability to learn. Withdrawal from nicotine can affect sleep, cause headaches, impact on mental well-being and create mood swings. Mary-Ann McKibben, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Wales, said: 'The evidence is clear: children and young people should not vape. While vaping is safer than smoking for adults, it is not risk–free and we do not yet have a comprehensive understanding of the long-term health effects. 'The ban on disposable vapes is an important step in taking urgent action to prevent a new generation of nicotine-addicted young people. We must ensure we learn from our experience with tobacco and work as hard as possible to prevent the use and uptake of vapes by children and young people. (Image: Getty Images) 'Public Health Wales will soon be launching a new addition to the Help Me Quit website, which will offer a free, personalised digital tool aimed at helping people to safely quit vaping and smoking. This tool is designed to enable people to reduce their dependency on nicotine products and will be launched in the coming weeks.' The forthcoming UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently going through Parliament, will build on the disposable vapes ban and pave the way for further restrictions on the marketing and sale of all tobacco and vape products. This includes a raft of measures to make vapes much less appealing to children and young people. Public Health Wales has produced guidance for parents and carers who are concerned about their child's vaping, which offers practical advice on how to spot signs of vaping and the most effective ways to have conversations with them about vaping. If you're concerned about your child vaping, you can contact Help Me Quit for free advice and support on 0800 085 2219 or at Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Public Health Wales welcomes ban on single-use vapes
The ban, which aims to address environmental and health concerns, comes into effect on June 1. This regulatory move is part of the Environmental Protection (Single Use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 amid rising concern over increased vaping among children and young people. Almost one in six year 11 students regularly use vapes, with nearly half having tried vaping. Mary-Ann McKibben, consultant in public health at Public Health Wales, said: "The evidence is clear: children and young people should not vape. "The ban on disposable vapes is an important step in taking urgent action to prevent a new generation of nicotine-addicted young people." Vapes, the majority of which contain nicotine, can cause cravings and affect concentration, memory, and learning ability. Withdrawal from nicotine can disrupt sleep, cause headaches, and impact mental well-being. The forthcoming UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to introduce further restrictions on tobacco and vape products. Public Health Wales will soon add a new tool to the Help Me Quit website, helping people safely quit vaping and smoking. Parents concerned about their child's vaping habits can seek advice from Help Me Quit.
North Wales Live
5 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Single use vapes banned in Wales from this weekend
Public Health Wales has welcomed the introduction of the ban on single use vapes, which comes into force in Wales and across the UK on Sunday 1 June. There is a clear consensus among health experts that the availability and marketing of disposable vape products has driven a significant rise in vaping among children and young people, with almost 1 in 6 (16 per cent) year eleven students regularly using vapes and nearly half having tried vaping*. Most of these young people have never smoked before taking up vaping. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox The Environmental Protection (Single Use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 will address both environmental and health concerns around the proliferation of disposable vapes. These have offered a cheap, easy to use and widely available product which has been both appealing and easily accessible to children and young people, despite it being illegal to sell nicotine vapes to under-18s, or for adults to buy them for this age group. The majority of vapes contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance and regular use can lead to cravings, as well as affecting concentration, memory and the ability to learn. Withdrawal from nicotine can affect sleep, cause headaches, impact on mental well-being and create mood swings. Mary-Ann McKibben, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Wales, said: 'The evidence is clear: children and young people should not vape. While vaping is safer than smoking for adults, it is not risk–free and we do not yet have a comprehensive understanding of the long-term health effects. 'The ban on disposable vapes is an important step in taking urgent action to prevent a new generation of nicotine-addicted young people. We must ensure we learn from our experience with tobacco and work as hard as possible to prevent the use and uptake of vapes by children and young people. 'Public Health Wales will soon be launching a new addition to the Help Me Quit website, which will offer a free, personalised digital tool aimed at helping people to safely quit vaping and smoking. This tool is designed to enable people to reduce their dependency on nicotine products and will be launched in the coming weeks.' The forthcoming UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently going through Parliament, will build on the disposable vapes ban and pave the way for further restrictions on the marketing and sale of all tobacco and vape products. This includes a raft of measures to make vapes much less appealing to children and young people. Public Health Wales has produced guidance for parents and carers who are concerned about their child's vaping, which offers practical advice on how to spot signs of vaping and the most effective ways to have conversations with them about vaping. If you're concerned about your child vaping, you can contact Help Me Quit for free advice and support on 0800 085 2219 or at
