Controversial proposals from the Scottish Green Party to ban flavoured vapes to protect the health of children have been branded ‘backwards and nonsensical’ by the UKVIA.
Ahead of any new ban, Scottish Greens are calling on retailers to treat sweet flavoured vapes the same way as cigarettes and hide them from public view.
The party’s health spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP says she has already written to supermarkets and leading retailers urging them to ‘act responsibly’ and voluntarily remove flavoured vape products from view.
UKVIA Director General John Dunne said the plans flew in the face of a recent consultation from the Scottish Government which showed there was no majority support to tighten the rules on the advertising and promotion of vaping products in the country.
He said: “This move would be a huge backward and nonsensical step for tobacco harm reduction in Scotland and is completely out of touch with the evidence around vaping’s significant role in helping people quit smoking.
“Flavours play a critical role in helping adult smokers quit their habits through vaping.
“Indeed, where flavour restrictions have been implemented there has been a rise in combustible smoking.”
Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of adult smokers is at an all-time low (13.3%) with vaping – which has risen at the same time by 1.3% to 7.7% of the adult population – acknowledged as playing a major role in the decline of smoking.
The Director General added: “It is ironic that this ‘promise’ by the Scottish Green Party comes just after the ONS data revealed that Scotland had the highest smoking rate in Great Britain at 14.8%.
“This type of action is in denial of the facts about vaping and the huge public health prize it presents.
“It will derail the country’s 2034 smokefree ambitions, creating a significant risk to the health of the people of Scotland, as well as spreading more uncertainty around vaping caused by misinformation linked to such action and inconsistent government policies.
“Not only should flavours be embraced but agreed health claims and switching messages based on real evidence should be allowed to be used on packaging and promotions by the vaping industry and public health organisations to encourage adult smokers to switch to e-cigarettes.”
The Scottish Greens said a flavour ban was needed to protect the health of children and young people.
Ms Mackay said: “Producers of e-cigarettes are using deliberately sweet-toothed tactics to target a new generation of users and we cannot stand idly by and just hope for the best.
“It cannot be right that these brands are promoting these products with berry, watermelon, mint and other flavours. It is a re-run of when alcopops first appeared on the scene and targeted teeny tipplers.”
She added: “I will be looking closely at what steps we may wish to explore in terms of restrictions on flavoured products.
“In the meantime, I am writing to the main supermarkets and leading retailers urging them to act responsibly and voluntarily ensure such blatant marketing campaigns are unable to cause harm by restricting their product placement.
“Much in the way cigarettes are hidden from view to lessen their appeal, it is up to shops and stores to play their part in supporting the health of the nation before action is taken that will compel them to do so.”