It's supposed to curb vaping... but could cause a boom in 'dangerous' black market sales

It is set to tackle a surge in vaping. The Government is hoping to crack down on streets filled with clouds of sweet-smelling flavoured smoke and a rise in young children puffing on the addictive, electronic devices.

But dodgy and illegal vapes and liquids, which pose a 'danger' to the public's health, could soon be being sold under the counter amid a boom in 'black market' sales, leading retailers have warned.

There are fresh fears that new measures being proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill could lead to a surge in the black market and even drive adults back to smoking cigarettes.

Plans have been proposed to put a stop to shop shelves becoming an appealing array of rainbow colours and flavours.

The Government aims to introduce plain packaging, ban certain flavours and put further restrictions on advertising and promotions on the e-cig devices and liquids. Disposable vapes are already set to be banned from June this year.

The bill passed its first Commons hurdle by 415 votes to 47 late November and MPs are set to reconvene on January 30th to vote further, before it progresses to the House of Lords.

It's a growing crisis. Vape usage in England grew by more than 400 per cent between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1 per cent of the British public now buying and using the electronic products.

Around a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape in 2023, with the disposable devices becoming the product of choice for the majority of underage children choosing to vape.

The Bill is hoping to create a first 'smoke-free generation' so that children turning 15 in 2024, or younger, can never legally be sold tobacco.

The long-term health impacts of vaping are still unknown, and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive.

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