To ask the Minister of Health to detail any action his Department is taking to stop the advertising of vapes (i) in close proximity to schools; and (ii) where confectionery can be purchased.

There are existing restrictions on advertising of nicotine vapes as set out in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

The King’s speech in July this year included a commitment to introduce a new Tobacco and Vapes Bill to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes. The Government has also stated a desire to ban vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children in order to stop the next generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.

I am supportive of the extension of these legislative measures to address youth vaping to Northern Ireland, however final decisions on Northern Ireland’s inclusion in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be subject to Executive and Assembly agreement.