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Epoch Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Ban on Disposable Vapes Comes Into Force Amid Concerns Users Might Switch Back to Smoking
A ban on selling disposable vapes will come into effect across the whole of the UK on Sunday, in a bid to cut their use among children as well as the litter created when improperly thrown away. From June 1, it will be illegal for all retailers to sell single-use vapes, whether or not they contain nicotine. Traders who continue to sell them risk a £200 fine in the first instance, then unlimited fines and possible jail for repeat offences. However, it will still be legal to sell reusable vapes, which are refillable and rechargeable. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the ban would 'put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets.' Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: 'For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today. The government calls time on these nasty devices.' Related Stories 4/16/2025 8/28/2024 Last year, the British Medical Association (BMA) Aid to Quit Smoking However, those in the industry warned of the 'serious unintended consequences' that banning disposable vapes could bring. The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said that vaping was intended to help smokers quit, and disposable products were successful in aiding smokers to do so because the devices are simple to use and 'most closely replicate the sensation of smoking.' 'We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes—which kill 220 people every day in the UK—to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes,' said John Dunne, the UKVIA's director general. Similar concerns were raised by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which supports the use of vapes to quit smoking and asks the government to make sure vaping products remain accessible to those who want to quit smoking. Stuart Griffiths, the charity's director of research, policy, and impact, said on Thursday that disposable vapes are often used by people on low incomes who may find the initial expense of a starter kit to be too high. 'Since smoking and smoking-related cancers disproportionately affect people from disadvantaged backgrounds, there is a real risk that the ban on disposable vapes could negatively affect efforts to address health inequalities,' he said. 'Not Completely Harmless' The NHS has also However, the health service said that while nicotine vaping 'is less harmful than smoking,' it is not completely harmless 'and we don't know yet what the long-term effects may be.' Children under 18 and adults who have never smoked are advised against vaping, because it can lead to nicotine addiction. File photo of a man exhaling whilst using a vaping product dated Feb. 21, 2020. Wire One concern is that ex-smokers move on to becoming habitual vape users. Analysis conducted by Action on Smoking and Health last year Tobacco and Vapes Bill The separate Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently working its way through Parliament and includes powers to potentially restrict the packaging, flavours, and marketing of vapes to make them less appealing, especially to children. Dubbed the 'smoking ban' bill, its main purpose is to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009 from ever legally being able to buy tobacco products. However, it will not criminalise smoking itself. On Thursday, the Scottish Parliament granted its consent to the national legislation, meaning that it agrees to Westminster passing a law that affects the devolved area. The Scottish Government's public health minister Jenni Minto said she was 'determined to ensure a tobacco-free Scotland, where people live longer and healthier lives.' Minto added, 'The bill, once passed, will also ban vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children, stopping the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.' File photo of a smoker stubbing out a cigarette dated Feb. 14, 2006. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Prohibiting certain people from buying tobacco products has sparked criticism from civil liberties campaigners, in particular raising how the law will create a two-tiered system where some adults can buy cigarettes and others cannot, based purely on their date of birth. Simon Clark, director of the smokers' rights group FOREST, 'Creeping prohibition will simply drive the sale of tobacco underground and into the hands of criminal gangs and illicit traders.' PA Media contributed to this report.
Metro
3 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Disposable vape ban starts today - here's what it means
The sale and supply of single-use vapes has been banned today. People will still be allowed to smoke the controversial disposable vapes, but shops can no longer sell them legally. Ministers said the move is designed to protect children's health and prevent environmental damage, with devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also introducing the ban from today. Businesses were told to 'sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force' ahead of June. The illegal supply of single-use vapes carries a £200 fine at first instance from council Trading Standards, who enforce the ban. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If the supply continues, punishment could be an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both. Many users have said that they are willing to resort to the black market when the ban starts, and they typically have about nine week's worth of disposable vapes. A ban was previously announced by the Conservative government in January, but was not enacted until after the general election. Disposable vapes are considered extremely harmful for the environment, being difficult to recycle and full of harmful waste such as lithium, battery acid and mercury. Holly Bowman, a 17-year-old schoolgirl from Ireland, began vaping when she was just 12 and 'really regrets' that decision. When I started vaping it was no big deal,' she said. 'It was just something that everyone else did and it made me feel grown up. At no point did I think it was going to be a long-term thing. 'Little did I know I would become addicted so quickly. When you're 12 you don't even know what addiction is really. 'Five years later I still can't kick the habit. Both the cost and health implications aren't sustainable for me. It's a decision I really regret.' Holly's Mum, Nicky Bowman, sits on the board of management at an Irish school and says vaping is a challenge she has deal with every day. 'It's a huge problem,' she said. 'We've had to increase CCTV at the school because there were hidden corners where kids would vape in between lessons. We had to introduce new toilet rules because kids as young as eleven are vaping. To make matters worse, batteries thrown into bins cause hundreds of fires at waste processing centres and the back of refuse trucks every year. It is estimated that around 40 tonnes of lithium has been discarded in the past 12 months- enough to power 5,000 electric vehicles. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away every week in 2023. And vape use in the UK has boomed. Around 9.1% of the population is believed to have bought and used them – a 400% increase between 2012 and 2023. However, latest figures from Action on Smoking and Health show that use of single-use vapes fell from 30% in 2024 to 24% so far in 2025. Despite the rapid popularity many products can only dream of, 40% of users said they are in favour of the ban, according to a poll of 1,000 adults by übbs Pouches, an online nicotine brand. Defra's circular economy minister, Mary Creagh, said that 'for too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. 'That ends today. 'The Government calls time on these nasty devices.' Caroline Cerny, the deputy chief executive at Action on Smoking and Health, said: 'It's promising to see that many people switched away from disposable vapes to re-usable products well ahead of the ban. 'This is particularly marked among young people, who were more likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and heavy marketing. 'This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children, while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking. It will be up to manufacturers and retailers to ensure customers are informed and able to reuse and recycle their products securing a real change in consumer behaviour and a reduction in environmental waste. If behaviour does not change then further regulations will be possible following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.' Around 48% of children caught vaping are less than eleven years old, research has found. It is already illegal to sell disposable vapes to anyone under 18, but the smaller, more colourful packaging on many of them is seen as a 'key driver behind the alarming rise in youth vaping', the previous government said. Although vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it has not been around long enough for its long-term effects to be studied, according to the NHS. Nor should its addictive qualities be downplayed. Speaking about the ban on Good Morning Britain, ITV presenter Kate Garraway admitted becoming 'instantly addicted' to vaping again after giving it during pregnancy. She told hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley: 'The last thing I want to do is anyway in sanction [vaping], because I don't know. 'But my experience was, after Billy was born, I did smoke before and I was craving going back to smoking [but] didn't want to.' But after stumbling upon some vapes which were being used on set as 'props', she said her addiction was instantly reignited. 'I think we had some props in here or something ridiculous, and I picked it up and I was instantly addicted, like beyond anything! 'I couldn't believe it and it made me realise how, particularly those disposable ones, are so addictive.' She added: 'They're so easy to do, and they deliver such a hit, so I don't know that it's a solution to ban the disposable ones, but they're everywhere.' Mum Crystal Baynam spoke to Metro about her dismay upon discovering her 15-year-old daughter had started vaping at school. She said: 'Katie, just 15, had been caught using a vape, and I was completely stunned. 'This was despite the fact that a few weeks earlier I had found a disposable vape – pink lemonade flavour – in her room, which Katie had explained away, claiming it belonged to one of her friends. 'When I received the message about Katie's detention, I was also told that they could throw the vape or give it back to her. 'It shocked me that handing kids back a vape was even an option, and without a moment's hesitation, I told them to throw it away.' She added: 'Katie has confessed that she loves some of the bright colours on the packaging, which is why I agree with the government's conclusion these products are aimed at children. More Trending 'The fact that these vapes are cheaper and disposable too, makes them easier for teens to afford and hide from their parents. I certainly didn't suspect anything until that call from the school. 'Now, I can't get my daughter to quit.' Libby Peake, head of resources at Green Alliance, said: 'Single use vapes should never have been allowed on the market. They've been a blight on our countryside, wasted resources needed for important uses like EV batteries and caused scores of fires at waste sites. And they've done all this while having a lasting impact on the health of young people, creating a new generation of nicotine addicts. 'The government should rightly be proud of taking this vital step to get rid of these polluting products and encourage people who want to quit smoking to opt for reusable and refillable options instead.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Disposable vapes officially banned in the UK from today MORE: Champions League final odds: Paris Saint-Germain's youngsters can lift trophy for the first time but may need to go the distance against Inter Milan MORE: Customers sing the praises of Uniqlo's £34.90 'crease-free' barrel leg trousers that fit like a glove
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
‘Exempt all farming businesses' from UK inheritance tax
Farming families with a long-term commitment to their businesses can be easily made exempt from the UK expanded inheritance tax measures. This was the clear views expressed by Co. Down-based financial planning specialist, David Hanna, who spoke at the official launch of Newry Show 2025. Hanna said: 'It's obvious that the current Westminster government does not understand farming.' According to Hanna, the expanded inheritance tax changes, referenced by the chancellor last October, are 'the most talked-about Revenue-related measures to have had an impact on farming over the past 40 years'. 'All agricultural businesses are asset-rich and cash-poor. As a consequence, many farming families are worried about their ability to actually pay the tax should they ever be faced with the need to so. 'And there is a ripple effect to be considered within all of this. Many farm businesses will not have the confidence to invest in the future of their businesses. 'We may also see a change in the way that banks deal with their farming clients.' The Newry-based financial consultant believes there is a very clear and concise way for the UK government to amend the new tax measures. 'There is an obvious option for the chancellor to exempt all faming businesses with a clear commitment to maintain the fabric of their businesses for the benefit of future businesses,' Hanna said. 'By taking this approach, she can focus her attention on those individuals and companies that view an investment in land as simply that: an opportunity to dodge the payment of inheritance tax.' Hanna is amongst a growing number of accountants and financial planning specialists who believe that the chancellor still has time to amend the agri-focussed tax changes she specified last autumn Meanwhile, a report by the UK government's Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee is calling on the UK government to delay announcing its final agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) reforms until October 2026, with the measures to come into effect in April 2027. MPs are saying that a pause in the implementation of the reforms would allow for better formulation of tax policy and provide the government with an opportunity to convey a positive long-term vision for farming. Such a development would also protect vulnerable farmers who, according to the report, would have more time to seek appropriate professional advice.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Your chance to see the Red Arrows near Glasgow this summer
The International Ayr Show - Festival of Light has announced its program and it includes the beloved planes, thought of as one of the world's premier aerobatic display teams. The seaside town will host the unique event Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6, 2025, at Ayr's Low Green. According to South Ayrshire Council's website said the progam "will feature impressive and daring flying display programmes on the Friday night and Saturday afternoon. "The event's Festival Village will also return, jam-packed with a fantastic range of family entertainment to suit all interests." READ NEXT: Hollywood actor spotted filming Baby Reindeer star's project South Ayrshire Council's portfolio holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, said: "Following another hugely successful festival this year, it's wonderful to be able to confirm the dates for the 2025 airshow. "Once again, September's event attracted in excess of 250,000 people over both days of the festival, and we're delighted to have received extremely positive feedback about the improvements we made on the previous year and the event as a whole. "So, my message is, get ready for the next one and save the date!" The Red Arrows are also coming to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland's capital for a flypast. The event will take place on August 9, 2025.
Saba Yemen
29-04-2025
- General
- Saba Yemen
Summer activities inspected at Al-Shamsiya school center in Dhamar
Dhamar - Saba: Dhamar province Deputy Ali Atef inspected on Tuesday the progress of summer activities at Al-Shamsiya School center in Dhamar city. Accompanied by Abdoh Musri, Director of Initiatives at the Ministry of Administration, Local Development, and Rural Affairs, and Dr. Adel Omar, Head of the Agricultural Sector in the province, Atef received a briefing from the school's director, Ahmed Al-Hamzi, on the implementation of the summer program. The program includes educational activities focused on Qur'an memorization and recitation. The visiting officials emphasized the importance of summer schools and courses in developing students' academic and cultural skills. They praised the high turnout and engagement of students in the activities, as well as the efforts of teachers and center administrators. The delegation included Ali Al-Amdi, Deputy Head of the Education Sector in the province, Abdoh Al-Hareb, Central Region Official at the Bunyan Foundation, and Khaled Atef, Dean of the Teachers' Higher Institute branch. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
