• THE “Nicotine for Kids” phenomenon is clearly being tolerated by the cabinet, the secretary of state for health, his shadow and the shadow cabinet. This is, to me, beyond belief.

Disposable vapes with the flavour of candy floss are not being marketed to adults and we must ask why such products deliberately include nicotine, arguably in the top three most dangerously addictive substances known to man. Why do they exist?

The vape market started out as a valuable service to people addicted to tobacco who wanted to get off this harmful substance, and this aspect should continue, marketed in the same way as other methods.

But why is the manufacture and distribution of this product, aimed directly and, I allege, deliberately, at children even legal?

Banning youngsters from buying them will not work; they’ll find a way. Closing down the manufacture and importation will help on the supply side but could drive the market underground creating new problems.

I am not sure what the solution is but I am certain of one thing – that continuing “as is” will turn a large proportion of today’s children into addicts and create medical problems for the National Health Service that it will not be able to deal with.

Is this a good idea, Mr Barclay?

PETER RUTHERFORD
Pandora Road, NW6