91Èȱ¬

Disposable vapes are set to be banned to try and stop young people taking up vaping and reduce the impact on the environment.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has flagged concerns about the popularity of the e-cigarettes, which are known for their bright colours and wide variety of flavours.

The number of available vape flavours could be limited to just four to try and reduce the number of children using them and there is to be a crack down on shops selling them illegally to under 18s.

It's not known exactly when the ban will be introduced yet, but it could be brought in early next year.

Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand have all announced similar plans to ban disposable vapes.

A consultation, which is an official investigation where the government gets advice and views about an important matter affecting lots of people, was launched last year - to help find ways to reduce the number of children using vapes in England.

The ban is expected to be introduced across the UK, the government said.

Government ministers will also look at the packaging of vapes, which many say appeals to children because of the vibrant colours and graphics.

There have been suggestions that plain packaging should be used instead to make them less attractive.

Vapes, also known as electronic or e-cigarettes, are small devices that hold a liquid containing nicotine in addition to a number of chemicals.

This liquid heats up, creating a vapour, which is inhaled by the person using it.

Vapes are seen as good replacements for adults who smoke cigarettes to help them stop - as they don't contain tobacco, which is harmful.

The NHS says that vaping is much less harmful than smoking, but it has not been around for long enough for its long-term risks to be known.

However, the rising popularity of vaping isn't just happening among adult smokers.

There are increasing concerns about the number of children using vapes.

Figures from the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity suggest 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.

Single-use e-cigarettes can be bought cheaply and are thrown away once they run out so they can be bad for the environment too.

Announcing the plan Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "It is important that we maintain vapes for adult smokers who want to stop," but that he wanted to target "all the things that make sure children don't have access to vapes."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he supported a disposable vapes ban but criticised the government for taking so long to bring in new laws to control them.

Eve Peters, UK director of government affairs for Elf Bar, one of the country's biggest vape makers said the company supported the government's wish to stop children using vapes but that it was "disappointed with the outright ban".

The UK Vaping Industry Association said it was "dismayed" by the announcement, saying that disposable vapes had "played a key role in helping millions of adults quit and stay off cigarettes".