The Ban on Disposable Vapes w Letitia Harding: 27 March, 2023

Around 1 in 12 youths from the ages of 15 and above are estimated to be regular vapers here in Aotearoa, using disposable, single-use vapes that are generally cheaper and easier to access. Experts are saying that the vaping epidemic is already having noticeable effects on young people and is likely to be the cause of various respiratory illnesses and long-term impacts on brain activity, both in Aotearoa and internationally. 

The government recently banned the sale of disposable, single-use vapes in Aotearoa, and increased the fines for retailers caught selling nicotine products to young people. A move that has been widely commended by both experts and the general public. 

Oto spoke to Letitia Harding from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand, to discuss the disposable vape phenomenon, and the benefits of the disposable vape ban.