|
|
|
|
Bad news for influencers: promoting vapes to children could become illegal
The Times reporter, Constance Kampfner, and Whitehall editor, Chris Smyth, explore the role of social media influencers in promoting vapes to children on TikTok.
“The government is considering a ban on influencers promoting vaping to teenagers under plans to reduce their use in youth”, the authors write, as “The Times has identified dozens of UK influencers promoting e-cigarettes to their followers.”
The authors claim TikTok influencers “glamourise the use of e-cigarettes to their followers in a manner reminiscent of 20th-century smoking adverts.” They highlight the example of one TikToker who argues that influencers rely on brand deals, including those involving e-cigarettes, to make money.
The authors spoke to Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, who stated, “The use of young glamorous people in smoking ads was prohibited long before tobacco advertising was totally banned because the evidence was so clear that it encouraged youth uptake.”
“Whether it is paid for advertising or not, social media saturation with influencers modelling vaping is sending completely the wrong message that this is cool, rather than an adult aid to quitting smoking.”
Source: The Times, 14 April 2023
|
|
Is vaping safe or not? All you need to know about e-cigarettes
Writing for The Guardian, Science correspondent, Nicola Davis, explores why the government is simultaneously cracking down on e-cigarette promotion to children whilst introducing a “swap to stop” scheme for adults trying to quit smoking.
Davis highlights that e-cigarettes are a significantly less harmful alternative for adult smokers. “Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England[…] E-cigarettes often contain nicotine, but they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, which can cause lung disease and cancer, as traditional cigarettes do,” writes Davis.
However, Davis also notes, “Many [organisations], including ASH, say the devices are not recommended for children and non-smokers. That’s because e-cigarettes are not completely risk-free.”
Davis cites Professor Peter Hajek, director of the tobacco dependence research unit at Queen Mary University of London, who has praised the new government initiatives by saying, “Vaping and other low-risk nicotine products have a potential to practically eradicate smoking-related death and disease. This new step is a sensible, pragmatic and science-based initiative and good news for public health.”
The article concludes with a quotation from Alan Boobis, emeritus professor of toxicology at Imperial College London, “The most recent studies support a role for vaping in helping smokers to quit and hence I think the government’s initiative is a good idea as part of a broader range of measures to reduce the burden of ill health caused by smoking”.
Source: The Guardian, 16 April 2023
|
|
Some ‘nicotine-free’ vapes high in addictive substances, tests reveal
Some high street vapes claiming to be nicotine-free actually contain the same level of addictive substances as full-strength e-cigarettes, tests show.
Data shared with the Guardian by Inter Scientific – which offers analytical testing of products to check whether they are following regulations – examined dozens of vape brands sold in shops across England and Wales.
The data showed that oversized and overstrength vapes are being sold unlawfully in shops. Laboratory analysis of 52 products bought in England showed 73% were above the legal e-cigarette tank capacity of 2ml. More than 40% of those tested had been filled with 5ml of liquid or more.
The analysis also showed that eight devices purporting to contain no addictive substances did contain some, with many containing almost 20mg/ml of nicotine – the legal limit in the UK. One vape had levels more than 50% higher than the legal limit.
It comes as the government has launched an “illicit vapes enforcement squad” as part of a crackdown on the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s. There have long been concerns that vapes are being targeted at children, and the number of teenage vapers is on the rise. The latest survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed that in 2022, 7% of 11-17-year-olds surveyed said they used vapes, compared with 3.3% in 2021.
David Lawson, chief executive at Inter Scientific and a fellow of the Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs, said: “We have seen a large increase in the number of illegal vape products being seized by trading standards and sent for analysis. Though these products don’t pose an immediate health risk, they are circumventing UK regulation.”
Source: The Guardian, 16 April 2023
|
|
Company advertising and selling bubblegum-flavoured cannabis vape products in Australia under investigation
A company advertising brightly packaged Hubba Bubba-flavoured cannabis vape products to Australians through sponsored TikTok posts and selling them without checking for ID or requiring a prescription is being investigated by the country’s drug regulator.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration confirmed it was investigating the content and owners of the Ethically Enhanced website, which sells vapes containing cannabidiol under the name Temple CBD Australia. A TGA spokesperson said the regulator would now “determine the most appropriate regulatory action”.
The confectionery giant Mars, which makes Hubba Bubba chewing gum, confirmed it was also “considering legal action” against the company.
Temple CBD’s targeted “sponsored posts” were active on TikTok for at least a week, despite Australia not allowing medicinal cannabis products to be advertised to the public.
After being contacted about the advertisements, TikTok banned the account for breaching its policies, but said it was the “responsibility of the advertiser to ensure that all ads posted on TikTok are legally compliant, in accordance with our advertising policy and appropriate for our community”.
Source: The Guardian, 16 April 2023
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
@ASHorguk
ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
