Action to protect young people and the planet
Single use vapes could be banned in Scotland, as part of plans to protect public health and the environment.
The Programme for Government outlined a commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.
Research suggests that almost one in five (18%) of adolescents have tried vapes. Zero Waste Scotland estimates that up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year, with 10 per cent being littered and more than half disposed of incorrectly.
With millions of vapes littered every year, there is a significant and increasing cost to local authorities through litter clear up and waste management.
Following a request of Scottish Ministers, the Circular Economy Minister and Public Health Minister will meet with counterparts in the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to discuss the findings of recent research and potential policy responses.
In addition, action to help ensure that children, young people and non-smokers do not use these devices will also be set out in this year’s refreshed Tobacco Action Plan, which will set out our road map to 2034.
After publishing his first Programme for Government, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Disposable vapes are a threat to both public health and the environment.
“We know that the bright colours and sweet flavours catch the eye of children and young people in particular. The World Health Organisation has said there is evidence to suggest that young people who have never smoked but use e-cigarettes, double their chance of starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes in later life.
“Last year we consulted on restrictions on the advertising and promotion of vaping products. Any action we seek to take will build on the regulations already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under 18s and the findings will be used to inform the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan.
“On the environment, the evidence is undeniable – from litter on our streets, to the risk of fires in waste facilities, there are issues which demand action.
“We will be working constructively with retailers and other stakeholders to come up with solutions. While we will be asking for views on a ban, we are also keen to explore other interventions that could have a more immediate impact.
“Of course, this is not just an issue for Scotland – these problems are being experienced all over the UK and we will soon be holding discussions on potential solutions.”
Public Health Scotland (PHS) welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to consult on plans to ban the sale of single use e-cigarettes (also known as vapes), following today’s Programme for Government announcement.
PHS wants to see ambition and clear action around measures that will improve human health and protect the environment. A ban on disposable vapes is one example of a measure that can benefit both people and planet.
PHS is working with the Scottish Government, academics and the third sector to better understand and address this important issue.
Dr Garth Reid, Consultant in Public Health at PHS, said: “The rise in youth vaping in Scotland is deeply concerning. E-cigarettes contain nicotine which is addictive and the long-term negative impacts of vaping are not yet clear. They can be a gateway to smoking and are not products for children.
“PHS welcomes a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling youth vaping and wider efforts to improve population health.”
ASH Scotland is welcoming today’s Programme for Government announcement by the First Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, that a consultation on banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes will be carried out by the Scottish Government.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland said: “We have been alarmed for some time about the upsurge of children across Scotland using disposable e-cigarettes so welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to consulting on proposals that include an outright ban on the health harming recreational vaping products.
“Young people who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start smoking cigarettes and only a ban would ensure the availability of single-use health-harming products that have become so popular with children are off the market as soon as possible.
“France is currently in the process of banning disposable e-cigarettes and their law could be enacted before the end of this year. Several other European countries are considering bans too so Scotland has a great opportunity to re-establish itself as a leading public health nation by prohibiting the sale or use of these products in 2024.
“Throughout the consultation period we expect the Scottish Government to ensure that interference by the tobacco industry and its vested interests, including retailers, to influence policy development is not permitted, as part of the good global health governance for which Scotland is known internationally.
“Under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3, WHO describes tobacco industry interests as ‘fundamentally and irreconcilably opposed’ to the aims of public health and, through their long record of denial and deceit, tobacco companies have shown they cannot be trusted to tell the truth about their own health harming products, and have sought to disrupt or delay health regulations designed to reduce use of tobacco and related products such as electronic nicotine and non-nicotine devices.
“By implementing a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, Scotland can start to address the exponential rise in young people vaping which is being driven by these products, safeguard public health and mitigate the environmental impacts.”