Chris Whitty calls for urgent action over marketing of vapes to children in England

England’s chief medical officer expresses concern as children’s vape use doubles in two years

Children are being targeted with “appalling” and “utterly unacceptable” marketing of vapes, England’s chief medical officer has warned as he called for urgent action to reverse a surge in the number of adolescents vaping.

Although it is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, national surveys suggest the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 who currently vape has nearly doubled in just two years. In 2022, the figure was 7% – up from 4% in 2020.