Vaping among 12-year-olds prompts local action

A Nottingham parent discovered her 12-year-old had been vaping and reports and surveys show youth vaping is rising; Nottingham City Council is launching a two-year anti-vaping pilot early in the year.

A Nottingham parent found her 12-year-old regularly using vapes and said the child had bought devices from a classmate on school grounds. The child described flavoured vapes as like sweets. National survey data and local reports point to rising vaping among school-aged children. Local authorities and Trading Standards say they are taking action. Key points: - The parent said her child began vaping in September and was using single-use disposable vapes, which were banned in June. - Action on Smoking and Health's Smokefree GB Youth Survey reported that 20% of 11-to-17-year-olds in Great Britain had tried vaping in 2025, up from 18% in 2024. - Nottingham City Council is launching a two-year, £414,000 anti-vaping pilot to work in schools and offer one-to-one support, to be rolled out early in the year. - Trading Standards seized 5,629 vapes in Nottingham in 2025; more than 1,000 were seized after three schoolchildren were hospitalised. - The UK government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill proposes licensing sellers of vapes and increased penalties for breaches. Summary: Local officials describe a rise in youth vaping and report cases where children obtained vapes on school premises. Nottingham is preparing a two-year pilot to deliver education and support in schools and is working with Trading Standards to tackle illegal sales. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is proposed at national level to introduce licensing and penalties for sellers; the timing of any law changes remains part of the legislative process.