East Ayrshire Council latest authority to back ban on single-use vapes
East Ayrshire is now the 24th council area calling on the Scottish Government to ban disposable single use vapes.
Last updated 29th Jun 2023
East Ayrshire Council is now among the growing number of local authorities calling for the Scottish Government to ban disposable and single use vapes in the country.
Councillor for Annick, John McGhee put forward the motion in council today after seeing the number of disregarded vapes being littered in his ward, as well as having concerns for the amount of children spotted smoking them.
Councillor McGhee told Greatest Hits Radio: “This isn’t an attack on youth or people who vape, because we know it can benefit people who are trying to stop smoking.
“However, the reasoning behind this, besides the obvious environmental issues, is that there are more and more young people vaping, some who have never even smoked.
“We’re talking about 11–17-year-olds smoking vapes.”
The motion passed this morning, with one dissent by councillor Neil Watts, making East Ayrshire Council the 24th local authority in Scotland out of 32 to back the ban.
However, councils do not have the power to ban the use or sale of disposable vapes. Therefore, the hope is that if enough council areas do the same, it will put pressure on Holyrood to act faster.
Councillor Ellen Freel from the Annick Ward was the one seconding the motion and told Greatest Hits Radio of the difference this could make to Scotland’s future.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve now backed this ban.
“In the lead up to this, I had lots of complaints from people in my ward about the concerns for young people smoking these vapes.
“Children aren’t even hiding it anymore, and we don’t know the health risks it could have down the line.
“The problem with littering these vapes needs addressed. They are filled with lithium batteries and when the world is so focused on the environment, we can’t afford to be throwing this away.”
South Ayrshire Council is now the only authority in the South West region yet to call on legislation to get rid of single use vapes.
East Ayrshire Council’s Chief Executive will now write to the Scottish Government.