(ANSA) - LONDON, MAY 30 - The British government led by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a legislative tightening to eliminate a loophole in England that allows retailers of electronic cigarettes to give free samples to minors. Targeting children and adolescents with this kind of marketing is something "unacceptable", the prime minister said. There will also be a revision of the rules on "nicotine-free" products: they can now be sold regularly even to those under 18, unlike e-cigarettes which are banned.
In addition, an alarming phenomenon emerged from a recent journalistic investigation conducted by the BBC: many illegal vaporizers confiscated from pupils in schools contained levels of lead, nickel and chromium much higher than those deemed safe. A discovery that "shocked" Sunak and prompted him to intervene, introducing in its tightening also harsher penalties for shops that sell non-approved vaporizers.
According to data from the NHS, the public health service, in 2021 9% of children aged 11-15 used e-cigarettes, compared to 6% in 2018.
The Labour opposition criticised the Tory executive's announcement as a "small step" in relation to an area where more decisive and comprehensive action is needed. (ANSA).
UK government launches crackdown on electronic cigarettes for minors
2023-05-30T10:32:32.102Z
Highlights: The British government led by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a legislative tightening to close a loophole in England. Targeting children and adolescents with this kind of marketing is something "unacceptable", the prime minister said. There will also be a revision of the rules on "nicotine-free" products: they can now be sold regularly even to those under 18, unlike e-cigarettes which are banned. According to data from the NHS, the public health service, in 2021 9% of children aged 11-15 used e-cigarette, compared to 6% in 2018.
The British government led by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a legislative tightening to close a loophole in England that allows e-cigarette retailers to give free samples to minors. (ANSA)