600 children in Telford borough 'vape every day' amid 'concerning' marketing
Telford & Wrekin Council estimates that 1,900 children in the area have ‘experimented’ with vaping already this year.
The estimate is based on the figures published by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) for children aged between 11 and 17 during 2023.
The authority also estimates that there are 600 children between the same ages who vape every day. It states that this is a ‘worrying rise’ from less than 100 ‘regular vapers’ in 2014.
It is illegal to sell vapes containing nicotine to under 18s or to buy nicotine for anybody else under that age.
“The most common ways young people report accessing vapes is by buying them from a shop or being given them by others,” says a council report.
“There is concern that e-cigarette marketing is being targeted at teenagers who do not smoke rather than smokers trying to quit.
“Vapes are commonly marketed with packaging designs and fruity flavours which appeal to children and young people.”
