Ash Scotland backs "outright ban" on single-use vapes
It says the crackdown is to tackle an "epidemic" of addiction among schoolchildren
Last updated 6th Dec 2023
A campaign group is pushing for flavoured e-cigarettes to be banned and all vaping products hidden in shops in a bid to tackle an "epidemic" of addiction among schoolchildren.
Respiratory paediatricians in Scotland have described the widespread use of vapes among schoolchildren as "a vaping epidemic", according to charity Ash Scotland.
It backed proposals from the UK Government and devolved administrations to restrict e-cigarette flavourings, packaging and marketing - but urged for further mitigations.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, said: "We welcome the commitment of the governments at Holyrood and Westminster to prioritise actions aimed at tackling the alarming upsurge of children using e-cigarettes.
"The scale of this public health challenge demands the introduction of swift and robust measures to bring an immediate halt to the exponential rise in vaping amongst Scotland's children and young people over the past few years.
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"Children are attracted to the taste and smell of fruit and sweet flavoured e-cigarettes, as well as the colourful engaging designs, packaging and marketing of vapes - especially disposables which can cost as little as £2.
"As most e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine, as well as toxic chemicals in the flavourings that have not been safety tested for inhalation and could damage lung health over time, we are advocating for the removal of all flavours except tobacco from these health harming products.”
"Outright ban" of single-use disposable vapes
The proposals outlined in the consultation - creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping - were put forward after the number of children using vapes tripled in the past three years.
World Health Organisation evidence suggests that vapes can be a gateway to smoking cigarettes, with young people who use e-cigarettes up to three times more likely to become addicted to nicotine.
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Shelia Duffy added: "We are also calling for an outright ban of single-use disposable e-cigarettes and for other strong measures such as preventing the use of imagery, colours and branding to reduce the attractiveness of products to children, and for all e-cigarettes to be hidden from view in retail environments.
"With the Scottish Government having already consulted on its proposed regulations to tighten rules on the advertising and promotions of recreational vaping products in 2022 and having legislation in place to enact measures, Ash Scotland is calling for regulations to be laid for parliament at the earliest opportunity as a vital step towards protecting the health of children now and future generations."