Disposable vapes have become the e-cigarette of choice for teenagers (Picture: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Doctors have warned vaping is fast becoming a youth epidemic as they called for a ban on disposables.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said e-cigarettes are not ‘risk-free’ and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes.

It demanded urgent action to protect youngsters, saying longer-term data on the effects of vaping is needed.

‘Since e-cigarettes have only been on sale in the UK since 2007, long-term studies don’t yet exist,’ the RCPCH said.

‘We have even less evidence on the long-term impacts of these products on young lungs, hearts and brains.

‘It took experts decades to fully understand the impact of traditional cigarettes, we cannot risk our children’s health in waiting this long again for longer-term studies.’

There has been a 50% rise in UK children trying vaping over the last year, according to figures from Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

It also found a rise in experimental vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds, from 7.7% last year to 11.6% this year.

Doctors said longer-term data on the effects of vaping is needed (Picture: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Disposable vapes appear to be the e-cigarette of choice for youngsters, and are mostly bought from corner shops.

In 2021, child vapers were least likely to use disposables (7.7%) but in 2022 they became the most used (52%) and this has continued to grow to 69% in 2023.

It is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s but teenagers are often tempted by the increasing range of flavours such as pink lemonade, strawberry, banana and mango.

In response to the Government’s consultation on vapes, the RCPCH said the ‘serious environmental impact’ must also not be ignored.

Dr Mike McKean said: ‘Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned.

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‘There is absolutely no reason that these cheap, readily available, brightly coloured, recreational products should be single use.

‘Youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children, and I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis.

‘Westminster’s approach to this problem is out of step with even our closest neighbours, with countries such as Scotland, France, Germany, and Ireland all seriously considering a ban.’

It follows a new crackdown on marketing to prevent the ‘unacceptable’ targeting of children – with Rishi Sunak telling of his own personal concern about vapes.

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‘Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned.’