Oxford lung specialist backs plans to make vapes less appealing to children
Dr Rachel Hoyles is worried about the impact of vaping on young people's physical and mental health
An Oxford respiratory consultant has welcomed new government proposals to make vapes less attractive to children, saying they have become "a lifestyle accessory" rather than a tool to help people quit smoking.
This month, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a consultation on new rules covering the appearance and retail display of vapes.
The proposals, which form part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, include introducing plain packaging, restricting device colours and keeping vapes out of sight in shops.
Dr Rachel Hoyles, a respiratory consultant at Oxford University Hospitals and Welbeck Oxford, believes the plans strike the right balance between helping smokers quit while tackling rising vape use among young people.
"I think this is really positive," she said. "They're trying to get the first smoke-free generation, which is truly fabulous."
While stressing that vapes are less harmful than smoking, Dr Hoyles said increasing numbers of children using them have become a significant concern.
"There is a normalisation of vaping," she said. "I think for children, it's seen more as a lifestyle accessory now, and that's the real risk."
She believes the designs and sweet flavours are making vaping particularly enticing to them.
"They're rainbow colours. They fit in the palm of your hand. They fit in your handbag. The flavours are delicious sounding," she said.
"I found one the other day for a piña colada flavour or bubble gum. These are clearly not marketed towards adults."
Dr Hoyles said vaping has already been linked to some inflammatory lung diseases, but questions remain about its physical impact on children.
"There are a great deal of unknowns around inhaling substances into developing lungs," she said.
However, Dr Hoyles said one of her main worries is actually the effect vapes may have on young people's brains.
"I think that the immediate concern is mental health and creating this nicotine addiction that may be more likely to lead to other types of addictions in the future," she said.
Rather than banning vapes outright, Dr Hoyles believes making them less appealing is more likely to reduce their popularity among children.
"I was a teenager once. As soon as you ban something, it becomes highly attractive," she said.
"If we make them really unattractive, they're not going to be posted on social media. I think they will become something that phases out over time."
The consultation is open until 2 October.