Trade bodies applaud government’s £62m youth vaping study

The government has announced a 10-year study to investigate the long-term health effects of youth vaping.

The £62m research project, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will track 100,000 young people aged 8 to 18 over a decade.

It will collect data on behaviour, biology and health records to understand what affects young people’s health and wellbeing - including the impact of vaping.

The long-term health impacts of vaping are “not fully known”, and this comprehensive approach will provide the “most detailed picture yet,” according to the government.

Officials said the research should provide health carers and policymakers with the robust evidence they need to protect the next generation from potential health risks.

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has welcomed the new initiative, emphasising the need for evidence-based policies.

Similarly, the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) applauded the research project. “Children shouldn’t be vaping, as vapes are intended for adults that would otherwise be smoking. The benefits of vaping in supporting adults looking for an alternative, or to quit smoking completely must be protected,” it said.

In addition to the research, the government is rolling out its first-ever nationwide campaign to inform young people about the hidden health dangers of vaping. The Love Your Lungs campaign targets adolescents aged 13 to 18, highlighting the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction while their lungs and brains are still developing.

“We particularly welcome the announcement of England’s first ever public health marketing campaign to educate children on vaping harms and have long been calling for money to be spent on education campaigns,” said John Dunne, director general of UKVIA.

The trade body would like to see the government “go even further” and communicate the relative health risks of smoking and vaping to adults too.

Moreover, the IBVTA wants to collaborate with the government on strategies to keep vapes appealing to adults who might otherwise smoke, while also limiting their availability and attractiveness to children. This should include “considerations around packaging, flavour names, and appropriate points of sale,” it added.