Sky investigates Kids Who Vape in documentary special
April 4, 2023
Sky Kids and Sky News are set to air a one-off documentary this weekend called FYI: Investigates: Kids Who Vape, exploring why there has been a rapid rise in the popularity of e-cigarettes among the younger generation.
The number of children vaping is increasing, with the NHS reporting that 9 per cent of 11–15-year-olds are now regular vapers. Is it the brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours that attract young people – or are there other factors at play? FYI presenter Braydon Bent (age 14) investigates.
Talking to teenage vapers, Braydon discovers how they’re able to obtain vapes, which cannot be sold legally to children. He asks if young people should be worried about warnings from doctors that vapes could be very damaging to their health, as well as being addictive.
The documentary sees Braydon meet a former vaper who ended up in intensive care after a reaction to one of the vapes he was using. What’s more, he uncovers that the vaping industry itself is asking the government to introduce tighter regulations to stop vapes being sold to children. The industry insists that vapes are intended only for the use of adults to help them quit smoking more harmful tobacco cigarettes.
Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content at Sky said: “FYI highlights contemporary issues in a format that is easily digestible for young people. The rise in vaping among children is an important issue for both children and their parents and carers, and we hope this documentary provides insight and an opportunity for families to have open discussions as well as encouraging positive learning”.
FYI Investigates: Kids Who Vape will be available to view on demand on Sky Kids and streaming service NOW (April 8th). It will also have a linear TX on Sky News twice daily from April 7th to April 10th. The show will also be available on the Sky News YouTube channel, playlisted with all other FYI episodes which are used widely in school news clubs.