A ban on disposable vapes will be considered by Labour as part of a major crackdown on kids picking up the habit.
Keir Starmer has pledged to look at plans announced in Australia to restrict the sale of vapes to pharmacies and introduce minimum quality standards.
The Labour leader urged ministers to ban colourful packaging and attractive flavours for kids such as unicorn crush or cotton candy.
He told BBC Radio 5: “Marketing that is pretty obviously aimed at young people should be abolished.
“We shouldn't allow that to happen because it encourages under 18s to start vaping when we don't want them to vape.”
Mr Starmer was pressed on whether the UK should follow Australia and "ban single-use disposable vapes, halt the imports of non-prescription versions and restrict the amount of nicotine in E-cigarettes".
He responded: “I haven't seen the detail of that but now you've raised it I will have a look at it because I do think there's more that we need to do.”
NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018.
The Government is currently undertaking a review into how to stop children and non-smokers from starting to vape.
Health minister Neil O’Brien has set out plans which include a clampdown on underage sales of vapes with a new "illicit vapes enforcement squad".
A Mirror investigation revealed last month that shops are illegally selling nicotine vapes to children.
A 13-year-old undercover shopper was able to buy a haul of vapes – containing as much nicotine as is found in 100 cigarettes – in just one day.
Australia’s health minister Mark Butler announced on Tuesday their government will shut down the sale of vapes in retail and convenience stores.
The plans will make it easier to get a prescription for a vape for therapeutic use for quitting smoking.
Restrictions on flavours and colours will also be introduced, with vapes in Australia now required to have pharmaceutical-like packaging as well as a reduction in the maximum nicotine allowed.
Mr Butler said: “Vaping has become the No. 1 behavioural issue in high schools, and it’s becoming widespread in primary schools. This must end.
"Just like they did with smoking... 'Big Tobacco' has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added sweet flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts.
"We have been duped."
In the UK, Mr O'Brien last month set out a package of measures aimed at driving smoking rates down below 5% by 2030.
The new proposals include a “swap to stop” programme that will encourage smokers to switch their fags for free vapes.
Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to quit.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “It’s already illegal to sell vapes to children and we are exploring further ways to tackle youth vaping through our newly launched Call for Evidence, which will look at the appearance and characteristics of vapes, the marketing and promotion of vapes, and the role of social media.
“We also recently announced a new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ – backed by £3 million – to remove illegal products from shelves and stop them from crossing our borders.”
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