SNP take step towards restricting the sale of vapes to youngsters

It is hoped changing the rules on the packaging, appearance and display of tobacco and vaping products will make them less enticing to children and young people.

This also comes just months after calls to introduce better regulation and licensing for vape shops following the devastating Union Corner fire in Glasgow.

The SNP said it would consult on restricting the sale of vapes within the first 100 days of government, and committed to reducing preventable deaths from smoking and vaping.

A public consultation on the proposals has now opened for 12 weeks.

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Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Scotland has been a world-leader on a range of tobacco control measures, and while there has been a steady reduction in smoking rates, we know it still damages lives and kills more than 7,000 people a year in Scotland.

“The use of vapes has increased in recent years, particularly among children and young people - with almost one in five children saying they have tried vaping.

“We know that colourful packaging and displays are used as an enticement to children and young people, which is why we are taking action and consulting on options to address this issue.”

Earlier this year Trading Standards officers in Scotland said a “concerning” number of shops are selling vapes and tobacco to underage children.

Their research found 1 in 7 shops sold cigarettes to under-agers, and 1 in 5 sold vapes.

For the past few years, there have been consistent warnings about the rising levels of vaping amongst young people in Scotland.

Earlier this year Stirling University said the increasing use of vapes and nicotine pouches amongst teenagers is having a significant impact on schools across Scotland.

It found pupils’ use of vapes is affecting attendance, behaviour and the wider school environment, with pupils reporting leaving lessons and missing classes to vape and some describing adverse health effects.

School staff told the researchers that some young people are showing signs of nicotine addiction, and teachers are having to spend “considerable time and resources” responding to this, such as patrolling school grounds and toilets and working with local retailers.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Young people are being enticed to use brightly coloured, flavoured, addictive, health-harming vapes, which help the tobacco and nicotine industry to generate huge profits, at a cost to the health of our children.”

She said the government needs to “move quickly” to introduce restrictions, including selling vapes in plain packaging hidden from view, and not displaying them in windows, tills or near sweets.

Ms Duffy added: “Most vapes contain high levels of nicotine, which is extremely addictive, as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safely tested for inhalation and can damage lung health.

“Regulatory actions are essential to protect children from harms caused by vaping, following mounting evidence of adverse health impacts, and studies consistently showing that young people who use vapes are up to three times at greater risk of starting to smoke tobacco.

“Added sweet and fruit flavours as well as imagery, colours and branding attractive to children on all addictive vapes, nicotine pouches and their packaging must be banned as a matter of urgency to protect the health of this and future generations.”