In the wake of the government’s prohibition on disposable vapes in June, aimed at mitigating environmental damage and nicotine addiction, communities in Lincolnshire are witnessing varied results. Scunthorpe, in particular, has seen a marked decrease in discarded vapes, according to local litter-picking groups. Jayne Eaton, of Scunthorpe Litter Pickers, revealed that clean-up operations have yielded only a handful of vapes, in stark relief to the dozens collected earlier this year.
However, lingering concerns persist about the continued prevalence of vapes among youth. Shelby Brown, a 26-year-old Lincoln resident, underscored that albeit the ban has curtailed open sales, the attractive array of colours and flavours still entices the younger age bracket. Local law enforcement agencies are struggling with the rise of illicit trading rings that bypass these new ordinances, ensuring vapes remain available notwithstanding the ban.
In a further bid to clamp down, the government is eyeing additional measures via the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This proposed legislation will put constraints on the advertising, packaging, and displaying of vape products. While the clear-cut environmental progress is encouraging, the enduring challenge is to effectively stem youth vaping in Lincolnshire.
This story has been adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
