Children will go back to “smoking behind the bike sheds” because of the disposable vapes ban, a Conservative MP has warned.
Sir Christopher Chope pointed to the government’s own impact assessment report, which found that as many as 29 per cent of current vapers could be driven back into smoking as a result of the ban.
During a debate in the Commons on the ban, Sir Christopher said: “In my view, if children are going to make a choice between vaping and smoking, it’s better that they should go vaping rather than smoking.
“One of the unintended consequences which may flow from these regulations is that an increasing number of children, instead of using vaping products, will actually go back to smoking behind the bike sheds, or whatever its modern equivalent is.”
‘I don’t wish to encourage people to smoke’
The MP for Christchurch added: “I’m concerned about the 29 per cent of current vapers who are going to be driven back into smoking, and is that a good thing for them or for public health? I don’t think that it is.
“.. I’m driven by the fact that both my parents.. they smoked very heavily as a result of their experiences in the war, when there wasn’t much else to do when you weren’t fighting the Germans, other than smoking.
“And as a result of that, that was very bad for their health, and it was for so many people of that generation. So I don’t wish to encourage people to smoke.”
Sir Christopher’s view was disputed by environment minister Mary Creagh who said most people who use disposable vapes will either stop smoking, switch to reusable vapes, or non-vape products.
She said: “[Sir Christopher] mentioned the 29 per cent of users reverting to smoking once the ban comes in, this is incorrect to suggest that the single-use vape ban will see a surge in smoking rates.
“The [impact] assessment states, we expect most single-use vape users to either stop smoking, switch to reusable vapes, or non-vape products, nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine patches and gum.
“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill recently introduced by Government takes strong action to strengthen enforcement on illegal vapes.”
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 was passed by MPs.
Vapers will buy flavours illegally
Meanwhile, a new survey by vape retailer We Vape has found that up to a third of vapers intend to buy flavoured vapes illegally if they are banned in the UK.
The poll of 60 vapers found that 35 per cent would continue to buy flavoured vapes online, abroad or elsewhere if they were limited. According to We Vape, this equates to almost two million people buying unregulated vapes if the ban is passed.
A separate survey by Vape Superstore has found that a quarter (25.2 per cent) of its customers would stock up on disposables in advance of the ban, while 14 per cent said the ban would make them return to smoking.
