The government has launched a UK-wide consultation on restricting the packaging and promotion of nicotine and tobacco products, including vapes. The Champs Directors called for stricter regulation of vapes back in 2023 and will be submitting a joint response to the consultation.
Dr Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and Lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside’s All Together Smokefree programme, was recently interviewed on BBC Radio Merseyside and Global Radio and said:
“The proposed measures to curb the marketing of vapes to children and young people cannot come soon enough.
“Vapes were designed to help adult smokers quit, not to create a new generation addicted to nicotine. Yet we’ve seen brightly coloured packaging, sweet-shop flavours and marketing designed to appeal to children and young people.
“While vaping is less harmful than smoking and remains one of the most effective ways for smokers to quit, it should never be a lifestyle product aimed at young people.
“Too many children, including those who have never smoked, are now vaping. We cannot allow the progress we’ve made in reducing youth smoking to be replaced by a new generation developing nicotine addiction in a different form.
“The new Tobacco and Vapes Act has the potential to protect future generations by creating a smoke-free generation. This consultation is an important next step, helping to ensure young people are protected not only from smoking but also from vaping.”
Read more and respond to the consultation.