What are Elf Bar doing to combat youth vaping?
| In this article… | The youth vaping problem What is Elf Bar doing to help? The future of vaping in the UK Elf Bar Products Sources |
In an attempt to reduce youth vaping, Elfbar and Lost Mary have decided to stop selling dessert and soft drink flavours. These have been criticised for being attractive to children. Elfbar has also suggested that the government should introduce a licensing system for vaping products, similar to the ones for cigarettes and alcohol.
The youth vaping problem
It has been reported that e-cigarettes are being accessed by children as young as 11. These devices are often disposables that come with intense flavours and high levels of nicotine. Although they can be beneficial for adult smokers who want to quit smoking, they can be dangerous for minors. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has revealed that 11% of 11-17 year olds have tried vaping[1].
Vaping products are available in various stores, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and vape shops. These stores use age-restriction known as the “challenge 25“.
However, there has been an increase in the availability of vaping products in non-traditional stores that do not typically sell age-restricted items. Unfortunately, these shops are also the primary source of vapes that end up in the hands of underage users. According to ASH, 26% of 11-17 year olds who currently use vapes say they purchase them from a newsagent, corner shop, or off licence[1].
Another issue is the low penalties that retailers receive for selling to underage individuals. The maximum fine is only £2,500.
What is Elf Bar doing to help?
Flavours are incredibly important to the success of vaping as a stop smoking tool. In fact a recent report by the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) revealed that 59% of users believe that flavours keep them off cigarettes[2].
But Elf Bar recognises that some of its sweeter flavours may appeal to underage vapers. It’s renaming some of the most popular choices to reduce this, such as bubble gum, cotton candy and gummy bear. These have been changed to BG, P & B Cloudd and Gami respectively.
Elf Bar also wants the sale of vapes to be more restricted, stating, “The introduction of such a regime would mitigate children’s access to vapes and make it easier for the authorities to better regulate the sale of vaping devices”[3].
The future of vaping in the UK
Is this change by Elf Bar too little, too late? The government’s vape consultation ended on Wednesday 6th December. It asked for feedback regarding flavour description, packaging, flavours, display and a possible disposable ban. Even the IBVTA appealed for people to have their say.
Worst case scenario is that vape packaging becomes plain, flavours are banned and disposables are made illegal. However, we don’t see any of these being implemented. A vape tax could be added, but this wouldn’t be as devastating for users are outright bans.
Elf Bar Products
Elf Bar 600 Pod Kit
| Puffs | Up to 600 |
| Flavours | 25 |
| Price | £4.49 £4.99 pods |
Elf Bar 4 in 1
| Battery | 750mAh |
| Flavours | 43 |
| Price | £5.00 £8.99 pods |
ELFLIQ
| PG:VG | 50/50 |
| Flavours | 40 |
| Price | £2.99 4 for £9.99 |
We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for e-cigarette use in the UK. Hopefully, the Elf Bar attempts to reduce youth vaping will be impactful and help to get devices out of the hands of underage users.
Sources
[1] Action on Smoking and Health. (2023). Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain.
[2] IBVTA member commissioned research by Opinium of 6,000 UK adults (Fieldwork conducted in November 2023)
[3] King, B. BBC News. (2023). Elfbar: Top vape firm drops sweet flavours over appeal to kids.
