Underage vaping has turned into an almost uncontrollable issue world-wide. But is it a community issue filled with influencers, show-offs and the like?
I do admit, seeing YouTube and TikTok videos of people blowing massive clouds, doing tricks that to a non user (and even some seasoned vapers) couldn’t even fathom, seems pretty cool and over the top and to a teenager, that is the next big challenge they want to tackle.
But just like people unboxing new phones, getting promoted by brands to post videos of themselves trying a clothing item, make up products and the like, vapers should not be penalised for showing their expertise, posting videos and gaining popularity. After all, Youtube has an option to age restrict their videos, so we can’t be fully blamed for teenagers vaping. At the end of the day, it’s people posting the videos and getting the traction that is advancing the vaping industry more than not.
Yes, Disposables became widely popular what seems like over night, specially amongst teenagers, however I’ve always maintained that it’s the accessibility that is the issue rather than the product. You can’t go and pick up a decent vape kit from a shop like Tescos or petrol stations, so why should you be allowed to get disposables? Corner shops (unlicensed retailers) don’t give a Scooby to who they’re selling the product to as long as it makes a profit. And THAT is the problem. In the UK, cigarettes need to be out of view of the consumer, so why are vapes allowed to be right by the tills, in view to everyone?
If only Vape shops and Vaping products were licensed properly, to make them inaccessible to unlicensed and mainstream shops, the problem wouldn’t be half as bad. I don’t mind liquids being sold in other shops as when you need to buy a liquid you generally already know what you are doing, however I do believe vaping devices such as kits and disposables should be for specialised vape shops only, to limit the extent of the problem.
Obviously, proper licensing won’t remove the problem entirely and it never will! - I tried my first cigarette when I was 12, same with most of my friend group. The problem has always been there and will always be there, so why is vaping industry being penalised for something that we have no control over and is entirely down to the government? Kits and disposables only being available in designated vape shops, whose entire livelihood depends on the licence staying in place, would reduce the teenagers accessibility to devices that they have no business in using.
