A BAN on disposable vapes to stop kids getting hooked would cost lives by making it harder for smokers to quit, campaigners have claimed.
Experts warn that the proposed move could kill off many people who want to kick nicotine by first converting to throwaway e-ciggies.
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Vapes are seen as less harmful because they do not contain cancer-causing chemicals — although the long-term effect of their use is not yet known.
Christopher Snowdon, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said vapes should be thought of as “life-saving products”.
He said: “A ban on disposable vapes will restrict the choices of millions of adult smokers who could benefit from switching to them.
“We don’t ban cigarettes because some teenagers smoke them.
“E-cigarettes can only legally be sold to people over the age of 18.
“The answer to underage vaping is to enforce the laws that already exist.”
A record 4.5million Brits now vape, with 15.5 per cent of under-25s now puffing on one every day.
“Banning disposable vapes will restrict choices of millions of adult smokers who could benefit from switching to them.”
Mark Oates, of campaign group We Vape, said: “A ban on disposable vapes is a dangerous strategy.
“Children will find products on the black market and adults will go back to smoking.”
The ban on disposables is expected to be revealed in a consultation by the Department of Health and Social Care next week.
A study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews today, showed they also offer the best way to kick smoking tobacco for good.
Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, of Oxford University, said: “The best thing someone who smokes can do for their health is to quit smoking.
“Our findings provide clear evidence of the effectiveness of nicotine e-cigarettes and combination nicotine replacement therapies to help people quit smoking.”