Member

Age verification is a central requirement of this Bill. Eight separate clauses deal expressly with age verification, and the focus of the Bill in respect of age verification is on the point of sale. That is important and necessary, but we know that there are limitations at point of sale, which are also important to recognise. Youth vaping is widespread. We know that one in four 11 to 15 year-olds has tried vaping; 85% of teachers say that it causes problems in schools; half of schools catch students vaping daily or weekly; and 160,000 young people aged 11 to 17 say that they vape daily. Illicit vapes of course fuel the problem. Cheap, illegal or dangerous vapes are too easily available online or in local shops.