THE public want stronger action to tackle the scourge of youth vaping.

Nearly one in five people aged 11 to 17 (18 per cent) has used an e-cigarette – up from 11 per cent in 2021.

A tech company claims vapes can be fitted with a “child-lock”.

IKE argues age-verification technology should be harnessed to stop young people puffing on vapes. Nobody would be able to activate a vape unless they confirmed their age using a mobile device.

Labour MP Mary Glindon last week described in Parliament how this could combat under-age vaping, saying: “This simple and straightforward approach would mean that no matter how a child got hold of a vape, they would be unable to use it. As the process would be quick and user-friendly, it would not prevent adult vapers from using vaping products as they do currently.”

Jason Carignan, managing director at IKE, said: “We have to be as ambitious as we can when it comes to tackling underage access to vaping products.”

Champions of age verification believe the Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill – which is designed to phase out smoking – is an ideal opportunity to put the new requirement in place.

Mr Carignan said the “Government could end underage vaping for good”.

Research commissioned by IKE found 62 per cent of people want ministers to do more to tackle youth vaping – and 65 per cent of regular adult vapers said they would be happy to verify their age this way.

The tech firm says every vape on sale in the UK could use Bluetooth technology which would ensure it would not turn on unless a user proved their age on a mobile app. It says this would come at no cost to the taxpayer.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are not prepared to stand by and allow a new generation of kids to get hooked on nicotine. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the advertising of vapes and provide powers to restrict vape flavours, packaging and shop displays.”

The new law will ban the sale of vapes from vending machines and make it illegal to give these products out for free.

A recent NHS England report found that of pupils who have tried vaping, 89 per cent have never regularly smoked cigarettes.