Government to ban single use vapes

The Scottish Government will introduce new laws to ban single use vapes and also to raise the minimum age at which anyone can buy tobacco legally.

No-one who was born on or after 1 January 2009 will be able to buy tobacco legally in Scotland.

The government will implement the recommendations in a UK consultation on Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping.

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP said: “From litter on our streets, to the risk of fires in waste facilities, single-use vapes are an increasing issue – for our environment, local communities and young people.

“We were the first government to commit to taking action on single use vapes and having now fulfilled our 2023 Programme for Government commitment to consult on measures to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes, I welcome the findings from this UK-wide consultation. It shows a clear majority preference for a ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland.

“I will now work to introduce legislation to ban them, working alongside Public Health Minister Jenni Minto, to carefully consider any potential public health impacts. Ms Minto will also be working on a separate package of measures to create a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034 and tackle youth vaping.”