Four Greater Manchester boroughs among top 10 'vaping capitals' in the UK

Four Greater Manchester boroughs have been named in a list of the top 10 'vaping capitals' in the UK. Online vape store Go Smoke Free found that Bolton, Manchester, Salford and Stockport are home to the highest number of authorised vape retailers per person.

The retailer also found that underage vaping is the most prevalent in the North West. It comes after the government announced plans for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in England, Scotland and Wales in a move aimed at tackling the rise in young people vaping.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to implement the ban, which is expected to come into force by 2025. Existing laws set strict limits on how much nicotine and liquid a disposable vape can contain, but a recent investigation by the Manchester Evening News found that vapes purporting to have much higher levels of liquid are available from busy newsagents - and in some cases being openly displayed.

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The M.E.N found vapes that are causing concern among police, local authorities and industry experts are easily available over the counter - in designs and flavours that could be attractive to underage people. Citing NHS data, Go Smoke Free says that teenage vaping is the most prevalent in the North West where 7 per cent regularly used e-cigarettes, according to the figures from 2021.

The rate of girls regularly vaping in the region was 8 per cent, compared to 6 per cent for boys, according to the data. The company has also named the top 10 'vaping capitals' across the UK based on the number of authorised vape retailers per person in each area.

Go Smoke Free searched for businesses registered for the retail sale of tobacco products in specialised