The government will announce plans next week to ban disposable vapes in England. This is to prevent children from becoming addicted.
Single-use devices sold in bright colours and “bubblegum” sweet flavours are seen as encouraging kids to smoke.
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The decision will be revealed in a Health Department consultation — pencilled in for next week, the Telegraph said.
Health bosses say 11.6 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds have vaped — up from 7.7 per cent last year.
Ministers don’t plan to copy Australia by banning vaping as they feel e-cigs help smokers quit.
PM Rishi Sunak said in May on ITV’s This Morning: “I have two young girls. I’m also worried about that.
“It looks like they are targeted at kids, which is ridiculous.
“I don’t want my kids to be seduced by any of these things.”
Prof Sir Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said previously: “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape, and marketing to children is utterly unacceptable.”
The campaigners also claim that the disposable vapes harm the environment, as they are now thrown away in five million units every week. This is up from only 1.3 million last year.
The policy of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland would be set by devolved administrations other than England.