The sale of electronic cigarettes for use once, common among young people, starts from Sunday in the United Kingdom, which follows the example of Belgium and France.
“Electronic cigarettes have always been used to use once and fill our streets and cause addiction to our nicotine children,” said British Environment Minister Mary Cree.
Starting from Sunday, the sale and distribution of these cheap, multi -colored and sweet -colored electronic cigarettes, which are common, is prohibited from young people since 2021.
Those who violate the ban will face a fine of 200 pounds ($ 269), and whoever repeats the violation will face the prison sentence for up to two years. This law has started its path towards approval during the previous era of the Governor of the Conservatives.
In 2024, about five million of these electronic cigarettes were eliminated weekly, according to the non -profit “Matterian Fox” organization. This number represents more than 40 tons of lithium annually, enough to operate 5,000 electric cars, according to the NGO.
Electronic cigarette waste also exposes the risk of fire in household waste.
According to the Association for Health and Combating Smoking (ASH), 11% of British adults use electronic cigarettes, equivalent to 5.6 million people. The association said that 18% of young people between the ages of 11 and 17, or about 980,000 young people, used it in 2024.
Electronic smoking in children
“This new law represents a step towards reducing electronic smoking in children, while ensuring the availability of products that help people stop smoking,” said Caroline Serney, Deputy CEO of the association.
Electronic cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, and they are one of the most harmful tobacco smoke components, but they contain nicotine, and it is significantly caused by addiction.
France and Belgium were the first two European countries to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes with a single use this year, while the Irish authorities are considering similar measures.
For his part, the electronic cigarette industry sector warns of the growth of the black market as a result of these measures. Dan Marshant, director of “FIB Club”, the largest seller of electronic cigarettes via the Internet in the United Kingdom, confirms that the draft law “only criminalizes the sale of one -use electronic cigarette; it is not prohibited.”
“This is a risk that may lead to an increase in illegal products that are likely to be dangerous,” he added.