HSC proposing ban on disposable vapes and sale of vapes to under 18s

Monday 08 April 2024

The Committee for Health & Social Care has today published recommendations to create a healthier environment for children and young people in Guernsey, through a ban on disposable vapes and prohibiting the sale of all vapes to under 18s.

Vapes are becoming increasingly popular and while they can be a useful tool to help adults give up smoking, the Committee is concerned about their targeted marketing to children. The long-term risks of vaping in children and young people are unknown and the Committee is therefore recommending a ban on their sale to children alongside measures to prohibit their marketing to children in retail outlets.

Deputy Al Brouard, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said:

"The findings of the Guernsey Young People's Survey highlighted that in 2022 38% of secondary age students surveyed reported that they had tried vaping and 10% recorded vaping regularly. The Committee shares the concerns held in the community about young people using vapes and has taken a pragmatic approach to recommend regulatory measures to reduce their visibility and availability to children."

Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, said:

"Vapes have proven to be useful in helping some adults give up smoking, but their use in children is not recommended. It is concerning to see that the packaging and flavouring of many of these products appear to be targeting children, so I hope the proposal to ban their sale to under 18s is supported."

The Committee's proposals can be read in full at Introduction of an enabling law to regulate vapes - States of Guernsey (gov.gg)