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| Vaping: We should follow Australia's ban, says teacher | Vaping: We should follow Australia's ban, says teacher |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| People have outlined concerns about vaping as the UK government plans to close a free sample loophole in the law | |
| People have outlined concerns about vaping as the UK government plans to close a free sample loophole in the law | |
| A teacher has called for the UK to take "a leaf out of Australia's book" by bringing in stricter laws on vaping. | A teacher has called for the UK to take "a leaf out of Australia's book" by bringing in stricter laws on vaping. |
| Under new laws in Australia vapes will be available by prescription only. | Under new laws in Australia vapes will be available by prescription only. |
| Teacher and union secretary UCAC Chris Shaw added: "They as a country banned vapes for everybody except those on plans from their GPs and that seems to be a sensible way forward." | Teacher and union secretary UCAC Chris Shaw added: "They as a country banned vapes for everybody except those on plans from their GPs and that seems to be a sensible way forward." |
| On Tuesday, the UK government said it would close a loophole allowing shops to give free vape samples to children. | On Tuesday, the UK government said it would close a loophole allowing shops to give free vape samples to children. |
| The Welsh government said it would publish its plan for preventing children and young people vaping. | The Welsh government said it would publish its plan for preventing children and young people vaping. |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford said he favoured "tighter regulations," and admitted that Welsh ministers had "failed to do it when we had the chance [in 2016], we mustn't fail again". | |
| Free vapes to be handed out in anti-smoking drive | Free vapes to be handed out in anti-smoking drive |
| Why Australia decided to quit its vaping habit | Why Australia decided to quit its vaping habit |
| The UK Vaping Industry Association said these products "are not designed for children" and said it was willing for increased fines to stop these products being sold to children. | |
| Earlier this month, the Australian government brought in a range of new restrictions, banning recreational vaping. | Earlier this month, the Australian government brought in a range of new restrictions, banning recreational vaping. |
| A timeline for implementation will be announced at a later date. | A timeline for implementation will be announced at a later date. |
| It came as the number of vaping teenagers in Australia soared in recent years, as authorities said it is the "number one behavioural issue" in schools across the country. | It came as the number of vaping teenagers in Australia soared in recent years, as authorities said it is the "number one behavioural issue" in schools across the country. |
| "Ultimately they are products that contain nicotine, they are actively designed to encourage young people to become addicted," said Mr Shaw. | "Ultimately they are products that contain nicotine, they are actively designed to encourage young people to become addicted," said Mr Shaw. |
| E-cigarettes can be purchased in a range of flavours | E-cigarettes can be purchased in a range of flavours |
| "There is a growing concern that the people selling these devices are concealing these devices within pens or USB sticks as a way of concealing them, potentially from teachers," he added. | "There is a growing concern that the people selling these devices are concealing these devices within pens or USB sticks as a way of concealing them, potentially from teachers," he added. |
| "I think in an age where health and wellbeing is paramount to the curriculum of our learners, it is vital that schools are supported in the regulation of these vapes." | "I think in an age where health and wellbeing is paramount to the curriculum of our learners, it is vital that schools are supported in the regulation of these vapes." |
| Mr Shaw added that his biggest concern was the long term health impacts, and therefore wants to see "much stricter and much tighter regulations". | Mr Shaw added that his biggest concern was the long term health impacts, and therefore wants to see "much stricter and much tighter regulations". |
| "I think there's a worrying trend as well that lots of these vape shops are opening, some of them very close to schools, because I think they're aware that they can target children," he said. | "I think there's a worrying trend as well that lots of these vape shops are opening, some of them very close to schools, because I think they're aware that they can target children," he said. |
| Dr Sinan Eccles, a consultant in respiratory medicine, said he has seen patients admitted "with severe respiratory problems due to vaping" and who have "become extremely unwell". | Dr Sinan Eccles, a consultant in respiratory medicine, said he has seen patients admitted "with severe respiratory problems due to vaping" and who have "become extremely unwell". |
| He said that some "needed to go to intensive care and be on a ventilator while they recovered". | He said that some "needed to go to intensive care and be on a ventilator while they recovered". |
| Dr Eccles said there is a lack of research on impact of vaping on young people | Dr Eccles said there is a lack of research on impact of vaping on young people |
| "We definitely see lots of common Bronchitis type symptoms, so breathlessness, a cough, wheezing. | "We definitely see lots of common Bronchitis type symptoms, so breathlessness, a cough, wheezing. |
| "That can happen to people who vape and people who are exposed passively to vapor as well. | "That can happen to people who vape and people who are exposed passively to vapor as well. |
| "We do see a smaller number of people who have a severe reaction. Those are small numbers of people, but they do become extremely poorly if that happens. | "We do see a smaller number of people who have a severe reaction. Those are small numbers of people, but they do become extremely poorly if that happens. |
| "The majority of people we've seen have been late teens, early twenties." | "The majority of people we've seen have been late teens, early twenties." |
| He said he was "concerned" that the number of young people vaping is "increasing at a rapid rate". | He said he was "concerned" that the number of young people vaping is "increasing at a rapid rate". |
| "We are seeing a quite a rapid take off in younger people. I think that's partly due to the marketing. I think it's probably partly due to disposable vapes coming onto the market, too," he said. | "We are seeing a quite a rapid take off in younger people. I think that's partly due to the marketing. I think it's probably partly due to disposable vapes coming onto the market, too," he said. |
| Dr Eccles said disposable vapes' "bright colours" make them attractive to young people | Dr Eccles said disposable vapes' "bright colours" make them attractive to young people |
| "[Vapes] can be brightly coloured, fruity flavoured and advertised in lots of different ways, much more than tobacco is, and I think that that certainly is attractive to a younger cohort of people," he said. | "[Vapes] can be brightly coloured, fruity flavoured and advertised in lots of different ways, much more than tobacco is, and I think that that certainly is attractive to a younger cohort of people," he said. |
| Stricter regulation of vapes would be a "step in the right direction", he said, but added "that's obviously dependent on people getting their vapes through official channels". | Stricter regulation of vapes would be a "step in the right direction", he said, but added "that's obviously dependent on people getting their vapes through official channels". |
| A secondary school teacher from Cardiff, who wished to remain anonymous, said he's seen pupils as young as 12 vaping at his school. | A secondary school teacher from Cardiff, who wished to remain anonymous, said he's seen pupils as young as 12 vaping at his school. |
| High lead and nickel levels found in illegal vapes | High lead and nickel levels found in illegal vapes |
| Vaping - is it a risk-free option? | Vaping - is it a risk-free option? |
| "There's vaping in the toilet and there's vaping on the walk home as well, which is the main thing," he said. | "There's vaping in the toilet and there's vaping on the walk home as well, which is the main thing," he said. |
| The teacher said identifying which pupils are vaping is difficult, as there is "no lingering odour" compared to cigarettes. | The teacher said identifying which pupils are vaping is difficult, as there is "no lingering odour" compared to cigarettes. |
| "There's only so much we can do with the staff and the time and the resources we have. It's a government issue that is not being enforced properly." | "There's only so much we can do with the staff and the time and the resources we have. It's a government issue that is not being enforced properly." |
| 'Wrong and irresponsible' | 'Wrong and irresponsible' |
| Dr Julie Bishop, director of health improvement at Public Health Wales said she was concerned the availability of vapes encouraged people to use them. | |
| She said "people draw conclusions from something being available" believing that "if it was bad for me, I wouldn't be able to buy it". | She said "people draw conclusions from something being available" believing that "if it was bad for me, I wouldn't be able to buy it". |
| "The kind of tactics being used by certain sections of this industry at the moment does suggest that they are seeking to recruit a new generation of addicts which is a cause for concern," she added. | "The kind of tactics being used by certain sections of this industry at the moment does suggest that they are seeking to recruit a new generation of addicts which is a cause for concern," she added. |
| "We've been inundated with requests from school for help. | "We've been inundated with requests from school for help. |
| "We'd really encourage parents to actively discourage the use of thee products amongst their children." | "We'd really encourage parents to actively discourage the use of thee products amongst their children." |
| Director general, John Dunne, at the UK Vaping Industry Association says these products "are not designed for children". | Director general, John Dunne, at the UK Vaping Industry Association says these products "are not designed for children". |
| "We've been pushing the government to take more action. We've called for increased fines for retailers who are selling these products to children," he said. | "We've been pushing the government to take more action. We've called for increased fines for retailers who are selling these products to children," he said. |
| "These retailers need to be hit where it hurts them and that's in the back pocket." | "These retailers need to be hit where it hurts them and that's in the back pocket." |
| The Welsh government said: "It is absolutely wrong and irresponsible that retailers can give children free e-cigarettes - and this practice must be stopped. | The Welsh government said: "It is absolutely wrong and irresponsible that retailers can give children free e-cigarettes - and this practice must be stopped. |
| "E-cigarettes should never be used by children and young people, and we will publish a plan soon setting out what we must do to stop this." | "E-cigarettes should never be used by children and young people, and we will publish a plan soon setting out what we must do to stop this." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | Wales |
| Vaping | Vaping |
| Swansea | Swansea |
| Cardiff | Cardiff |
| Welsh government | Welsh government |