Disposable vapes are to be banned across the UK as the Government looks to tackle the rise in youth vaping and “protect children’s health”.
It’s long been a topic of conversation, and one that many activists have been calling for – as well as a group of Greater Manchester councillors back in August of last year too – but now, the Government is finally appearing to take action and address the rising problem of youth vaping head-on by announcing a nationwide ban on disposable e-cigarettes.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to formally announce the UK-wide ban today (29 January) during a visit to a school.
The ban on disposable vapes comes as part of the Government’s wider “ambitious plans”, and is said to be a response to its recent consultation on smoking and vaping – which was launched back in October last year.
🆕 We’re banning disposable vapes in the UK to protect children’s health.
This is part of new measures to clamp down on underage vaping and create a #SmokefreeGeneration by making it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Details 🔻
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 29, 2024
According to the Government, recent figures show that the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled, and use among younger children is also rising, in particular – with 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds now using vapes.
Disposable vapes have been “a key driver” behind the “alarming rise” in youth vaping, Government ministers say, as studies show that the proportion of 11 to 17-year-old vapers using disposables has increased almost ninefold in the last two years.
As part of the Government’s plans, new powers will be introduced to restrict e-cigarette flavours that are specifically-marketed at children, and ensure that manufacturers produce plainer and less-visually-appealing packaging, while also allowing the Government to change how vapes are displayed in shops by both moving them out of childrens’ sight, and away from other products that are made to appeal to them – such as sweets, fizzy drinks, and so on.
Government announces ban on disposable vapes in UK to ‘protect children’s health’ / Credit: Sarah Johnson (via Pixabay) | Unsplash
To crack down on underage sales, the Government has also announced it will bring in new fines for shops in England and Wales that sell vapes illegally to children, and give trading standards officers the power to act ‘on the spot’ to tackle underage tobacco and vape sales.
Vaping alternatives such as nicotine pouches will also be outlawed for children under the new plans, as it’s thought youths are now “increasingly turning” to these “highly addictive substitutes” instead.
“As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children,” commented Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he announced the ban on disposable vapes in the UK today.
“And so we must act before it becomes endemic.
“The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.
Smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of death in England.
We are protecting our children by creating a smokefree generation – and acting to tackle the alarming rise in youth vaping.https://t.co/OwvuZdFbrY
“As Prime Minister, I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term, and that is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes, and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging, and change how vapes are displayed in shops. “
Mr Sunak says these he wants these new changes to “leave a lasting legacy” by protecting children’s health “for the long term”.
As well as all these new plans announced today in an attempt to tackle the rise in youth vaping, the Government has also, once again, reiterated its commitment to bring about the first ‘smokefree generation’ in the UK, and has said it is keen to eventually introduce legislation that means children turning fifteen this year, or younger, can never legally be sold tobacco.
The eight new proposed measures to create a ‘smokefree generation’ were announced the Prime Minister at the Conservative Party Conference last October.
Featured Image – ELFBAR
News
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)/pantkiewicz (via Flickr)
News
Brand new venue confirmed as the host of The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness
Danny Jones
The magnificent Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness is back this year, and with the 2025 event fast approaching, they have announced arguably their biggest host venue yet, setting up in camp in a brand new food and drink hall.
Having housed the incredible charity gathering from Freight Island last year, it was always going to take some beating this time around, but somehow they’ve managed to.
The annual relay run in aid of Greater Manchester’s homeless community will be taking place at none other than the city centre’s recently unveiled House of Social, with the building’s wider student living quarters serving as the perfect fit for the initiative first thought up by university friends back in 2018.
Announced this week, House of Social will be teaming up with the wider First Street neighbourhood to look after the hordes of incredible runners this year.
Jamie Hills, Development Director at Ask Real Estate – who operate the ever-growing First St complex – said of volunteering as this year’s hosts: “First Street is thrilled to welcome and fuel the incredible runners of The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.
“As the city’s hotspot for community events and culture, we’re proud to be a place where community thrives, so we’re incredibly excited to support this important initiative. With our fantastic on-site amenities like House of Social, we’re ready to keep those participating powered up and going strong!”
As for co-founder Tom Lewis, speaking to The Manc, he said: “We’re excited to return for our 7th edition, with Manchester being our flagship event.
“Through being hosted at House of Social in First Street, we’re hoping to make this year’s edition the best and biggest yet, aiming to raise £50,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity Scheme, ‘A Bed Every Night’.
“We’d love to see you all at the event, plus bring your friends and workplace to. There are paces for everyone, including walking laps.”
In November 2024, not only did the fundraising phenomenon mark its first-ever expansion with an inaugural event in Birmingham, but it also surpassed £50,000 here in Manchester alone, and is now set to make debuts in a trio of new cities.
Tom went on to add: “I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve managed to accomplish as a team with starting up three more events across the country this year and expanding Manchester to a scale we couldn’t have dreamed of when we started out seven years ago.”
We here at The Manc Group have been helping The MCR 24 Run Against Homelessness for several years now, and have put in plenty of those 5k laps between ourselves, so you can bank on us being there to put in some more hard yards this November.
Even better still, we’ve already roped in our friends over at The Hoot to help out with the maiden 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness in Leeds, and we hope to see lots more of you chipping in across the North and beyond.
Here’s to helping rough sleepers find beds and get back on their feet all over the country.
The @mcr24hourrun is expanding in 2025 and is heading to Leeds for the first time. 🏃♂️
And they're not the only city making their debut this year either… 👊
Emily Sergeant -
29th January 2024 
