Scottish Government announces ban on sale of disposable vapes
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Scotland is to ban disposable vapes, in measures which aim to curtail their rising use among children.
The Government will use its devolved powers to approve the ban, which could come into effect in early 2025.
The move follows concerning data released by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity, which revealed that 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.
Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, announced the legislation.
Slater said: “From litter on our streets, to the risk of fires in waste facilities, single-use vapes are an increasing issue – for our environment, local communities and young people.
“We were the first Government to commit to taking action on single-use vapes, and having now fulfilled our 2023 Programme for Government commitment to consult on measures to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes, I welcome the findings from this UK-wide consultation.
“It shows a clear majority preference for a ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland.”
“We can’t stop illegal drugs, so how are we possibly going to stop disposable vapes being available?”
Simon clark
The announcement has been met with praise from health experts and charities.
David McColgan, Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland, said: “It’s absolutely right that the Government is taking action to make vaping less appealing to the population.
“When we focus on children and young people, it’s essential that we take steps to reduce their access and the attractiveness to vaping for them.
“We know tobacco has a severe impact on people’s heart health; it is one of the leading contributing factors to heart attacks in the UK.
“The steps taken today are vital for achieving a smoke-free generation by 2034, but we shouldn’t see this as the end of the process.
“It’s a step, and we need a series of measures in place.”
However, concerns have been raised over the potential alternative routes people may find to continue using disposable vapes by the director of the smoking lobby group, Forest, Simon Clark.
Clark said: “The reality is that children if they want to, will still get their hands on disposable vapes because the black market will flourish.
“We can’t stop illegal drugs, so how are we possibly going to stop disposable vapes being available?
“They’re going to come in like a tsunami, and they won’t be regulated, so we won’t know what’s actually in them.”
Smoking is responsible for around 8,000 deaths a year in Scotland and vaping is seen as an alternative, however, McColgan warns that there are groups that also need to be focused on.
He said: “People who have never smoked before but have started vaping, I think we need to protect their health and make sure there are effective measures in place to make it harder for anyone to buy vapes and become addicted.”
Donald is a third year Multimedia Journalism student at Glasgow Caledonian University.
