Brits have been warned that new vaping restrictions could spell the end for their beloved flavours.
Vaping has seen an astronomical rise over the past couple of years. Formerly a tool to aid smokers quit their unhealthy habits, vaping has since been given a colourful facelift and a wide array of sugary flavours which has encouraged the younger generation to taking up the habit.
The amount of children and young people puffing on fruity e-cigarettes has understandably led to concern from health organisations - with the UK government set to introduce a strict crackdown on the production and sale of vapes.
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'What does this mean for me?' I hear you ask. Well it could mean saying goodbye to vaping as you currently know it.
Part of the new regulations could see fruity flavours in disposable vapes targeted.
The fruity vapes often mirror the names of bubblegum flavours, which choices such as Cotton Candy, Pink Grapefruit, Sour Apple and more currently on the market.
However, these sugary flavours are believed to target children, with the fruity scent and taste masking the harmful impact.
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Fruity vapes usually tend to be disposable as well, meaning that any legislation targeting the sale of single use vapes would also impact them.
Meanwhile the brightly coloured packaging vapes are sold in (which usually indicate their flavour) will also be restricted as the government looks to give vapes the same treatment as cigarettes.
While the news of stricter laws around vapes will doubt annoy some e-cigarette smokers, it's important to acknowledge that flavoured vapes are being restricted, instead of banned outright.
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This means that fruity vapes will still be available to purchase in some form, just in a way that makes them less appealing to children and younger people.
Speaking about the prospective ban back in January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the rise in vaping amongst young people 'one of the most worrying trends at the moment'.
"As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic," he said.
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“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.
He continued: “As Prime Minister I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term. That is why I am taking bold action to ban disposable vapes – which have driven the rise in youth vaping – and bring forward new powers to restrict vape flavours, introduce plain packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops."
There is currently no confirmation on when the measures will come into law, however they are expected to coincide with the government's plans to ban anyone born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes or other tobacco products.