Health chiefs have criticised companies selling festive flavoured vapes to children after revealing 170 children have been hospitalised due to vaping.
More than one child a week is now admitted to hospital with vaping-related injuries, a fivefold increase over the last five years.
Health officials said flavors like "mince pie," candy, Christmas candy and gingerbread are "appealing to young age groups," but "there is nothing joyful or fun" about the serious effects that vaping can have on their health.
It is illegal to sell vapes to minors under 18, but NHS England has revealed that online shops are "offering festive offers and Christmas flavours" that can be purchased with "minimal or no checks".
The NHS called on shops to improve their checks to stem the tide of children becoming addicted to nicotine and falling ill.
"The fact that more than 30 children and young people have been admitted to hospital over the last seven months for heat-related conditions, such as breathing difficulties and potential lung damage, is simply alarming," said Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England. GazetaExpress reports.
"Vapes with flavors like Christmas cakes, candy, mince pies or gingerbread may be appealing to younger age groups, but there's nothing fun about the serious effects they can have on their health."
From March to October this year, 31 children were admitted to hospital for heat-related injuries, an average of 4.42 cases per month. This is an increase from 11 cases in the whole of 2020/21.
Vaping among young people has more than doubled in the last four years, with one in four 11- to 15-year-olds having tried vaping in 2023.
The British government plans to ban vaping in public spaces, restrict attractive packaging and fruity flavors, and require licenses for the sale of vaping and tobacco. Vendors who break the rules could face fines of up to £2,500.
Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, has described the rise in the number of children using vaping as a “major concern”. He said the marketing of vaping to children was “completely unacceptable”.
"Vapes are a valuable tool for quitting smoking and less harmful than smoking, but, as this report shows, they are not without risks. It is vital that the government continues to tackle tobacco, while developing responsible regulations for vaping," said Caroline Cerny from Action on Smoking and Health. /Express newspaper/
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