Do bans ever work? More and more teenagers in the UK say that they vape. And with sales of legal e-cigarettes banned to under-18s, many are turning to illegally produced products.
Illegal vapes contain toxic levels of lead
Do bans ever work? More and more teenagers in the UK say that they vape. And with sales of legal e-cigarettes banned to under-18s, many are turning to illegally produced products.
Lead, nickel and chromium. Would you willingly eat these? Probably not - but these chemicals were found in vapes taken from students at Baxter College in KidderminsterA town in Worcestershire, England, with a population of nearly 60,000. , UK. Tests showed that people who used them might inhale more than twice the safe amount of lead and nine times the safe amount of nickel. Flavoured vapes in Australia were also found to contain zinc, arsenicA chemical element which is very poisonous. and formaldehydeA colourless chemical used in many building materials..
VapingUsing an electronic cigarette to breathe in nicotine or other drugs as a vapour. is still new, and we are not sure about its long-term effects. Some studies show that it can harm people's lungs, especially when they are young and still growing. It can cause problems like fast heartbeats, confusion, fits and even loss of consciousness. There have even been cases of illegal vapes exploding and hurting people.
Many are concerned about young people buying illegal vapes which do not follow safety rules. The UK government wants to take action and might ban disposableIntended to be thrown away after it is used. vapes. But would a ban help?
Some think that banning disposable vapes would make it harder for teenagers to get them. It would show that vaping is not for children. Bans have been used before to solve problems. For example, after smoking was banned in public places in the UK, nearly two million people stopped smoking. But bans can sometimes make things worse.
In the past, when alcohol was banned in the United States, it did not work. People still found ways to get alcohol, and it led to more problems like crime and violence. Some say that banning disposable vapes might not work either. Teenagers might find other ways to get them or try different kinds of vaping or nicotineThe substance found in tobacco that people become addicted to. It can also be made artificially. . Also, if there is a ban, the government will not be able to regulate the products anymore.
The vapes that were taken from students were already being sold illegally, so a ban might not have the desired effect. Instead of just banning things, some experts think it is better to focus on why teenagers are using vapes. They say we should give education and resources to help them make healthier choices.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Do bans ever work?</strong></h5>
Yes: Bans on smoking in public places have been shown to reduce the number of people who smoke and the amount of secondhand smoke exposure.
No: Bans can be ineffective or even counterproductive. For example, the prohibition of alcohol in the United States in the 1920s led to an increase in organised crimePlanned criminal behaviour, often involving lots of people working together over a long time to make money. Organised crime often centres around the sale of illegal drugs. and the production of illegal alcohol.
Or... The effectiveness of a ban on vapes likely depends on how it is implemented. For example, a ban that is also accompanied by an education campaign that is also vigorously enforced is more likely to be effective than a ban on its own.
Kidderminster - A town in Worcestershire, England, with a population of nearly 60,000.
Arsenic - A chemical element which is very poisonous.
Formaldehyde - A colourless chemical used in many building materials.
Vaping - Using an electronic cigarette to breathe in nicotine or other drugs as a vapour.
Disposable - Intended to be thrown away after it is used.
Nicotine - The substance found in tobacco that people become addicted to. It can also be made artificially.
Organised crime - Planned criminal behaviour, often involving lots of people working together over a long time to make money. Organised crime often centres around the sale of illegal drugs.
Illegal vapes contain toxic levels of lead

Glossary
Kidderminster - A town in Worcestershire, England, with a population of nearly 60,000.
Arsenic - A chemical element which is very poisonous.
Formaldehyde - A colourless chemical used in many building materials.
Vaping - Using an electronic cigarette to breathe in nicotine or other drugs as a vapour.
Disposable - Intended to be thrown away after it is used.
Nicotine - The substance found in tobacco that people become addicted to. It can also be made artificially.
Organised crime - Planned criminal behaviour, often involving lots of people working together over a long time to make money. Organised crime often centres around the sale of illegal drugs.