Option 1 - Ban Vapes.

Question 1

Argument 1: Vaping harms your ______.

Answer 1

• Health
• Health risks of vaping: Vaping is harmful to people’s health, despite being considered a healthier alternative to smoking.
• Medical conditions liked to vaping: Vaping associated with lung inflammation and disease such as chronic bronchitis.
• Dangerous chemicals in vapes: Vapes contain harmful chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acrolein and formaldehyde.
• Health issues caused by chemicals: These aldehydes can lead to lung disease and cardiovascular (heart) disease (American Lung Association).

Question 2

Argument 2: Targeted at a __________ audience.

Answer 2

• Younger.
• Bright colours, flavours such as ‘strawberry’ and ‘bubblegum’.
• Increase in underage vaping: In UK, percentage increase fro 15.8% in 2022 to 20.5% in 2023 (Ash.org.uk).
• Kid friendly packaging: Brands (JUUL), often have packaging appealing to children and teens.
• Risk of transitioning to cigarettes: Teens vaping more likely to try smoking, which have bigger health risks (Child Mind Institute).
• Peer Pressure: Many teens vape due to peer pressure, even if not initially interested, because of social environment.

Question 3

Argument 3: Effect on _______.

Answer 3

• Climate.
• Environmental harm of vapes: Made of plastics that don’t biodegrade, contributing to environmental damage (Greenpeace + Lung Foundation).
• Waste from disposable vapes: Creates significant waste, amount of vapes discarded annually to cover around 22 football pitches.
• Resource waste: The production of vapes wastes valuable resources such as cobalt, platinum and other rare Earth elements.
• Leaking and contamination: Discarded vapes can leak harmful substances + plastic can take centuries to degrade, causing long-term environmental damage.

Question 4

Argument 4: __________.

Answer 4

• Addictive.
• Vapes as addictive devices: Nicotine (addictive) leads to dependency for users.
• Although an alternative to smoking + less harmful, due to absence of tar and carbon monoxide (NHS), still poses health risks.
• Impact on brain development: Nicotine negatively affects brain development in under 25s.
• Cognitive + behavioural effects: Vaping can lead to difficulty with concentration, weakened impulse control and increased mood swings.
• Long term addiction risks: Vapes can increase the likelihood of developing substance addictions later in life (Ash.co.uk).