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UK set to ban single use vapes to discourage children from smoking
Single use vapes will be banned as part of efforts to crack down on their use by youngsters, ministers will announce.
The Government is preparing to respond to a consultation on vaping and phasing out sales of cigarettes, ahead of a bill in February.
On Monday it is expected to publish plans which will include a ban on disposable vapes in an effort to stop the habit among children and young people.
It follows research in January which shows that half of those aged between 18 and 24 who use disposable vapes do so despite no history of smoking.
Ministers are seeking to draw up measures which will stop children taking up the habit, while ensuring that they do not deter smokers using e-cigarettes as a route to quitting smoking.
A Cancer Research UK-funded study found that from January 2021 to August 2023, the prevalence of disposable e-cigarette use grew from 0.1 per cent to 4.9 per cent of the adult population.
Among those aged 18 to 24 the proportion using disposable vapes is significantly higher.
In total, 14.4 per cent of this age group used the devices, including 7.1 per cent who used them despite not having a history of regularly smoking tobacco.
Researchers said any ban would need to be backed by measures which encourage current and former smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The health advice on vaping is clear: vaping can play a role in helping adult smokers to quit, but if you don’t smoke, don’t vape – and children should never vape.
“We have consulted on measures to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children. We will set out further details in due course.”
Source: The Telegraph, 25 January 2024
See also: Jackson SE, Tattan-Birch H, Shahab L, Oldham M, Kale D, Brose L, et al. Who would be affected by a ban on disposable vapes? A population study in Great Britain. Public Health, 2024
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Opinion: Bad habits, good intentions
Institute (CTSI) Kate Pike, discusses the government’s plan to raise the age of sale of tobacco and make vapes less attractive to children and the subsequent role trading standards will play in the enforcement of this legislation.
Pike starts by stating that public health colleagues across the country and the CTSI welcome legislation that will make vapes less accessible to children while ensuring adult smoking have access to them as a smoking cessation device. She also highlights CTSI’s strong support for raising the age of sale for tobacco and states that trading standards will “take enforcement action against irresponsible businesses who put profit ahead of their customers’ health.”
However, Pike makes the point that trading standards is a small local government service that will become responsible for the enforcement of age of sale legislation as well as other tobacco and vaping regulation. Pike states that the government has offered CTSI a share of the £30 million budget put aside for enforcement of the age of sale legislation, but adds that they will also need “really clear legislation that is enforceable and proportionate to the harms of the products.”
Source: Trading Standard, 24 January 2024
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Experts say it's time to address the high rate of Australians with disabilities addicted to smoking
According to a new analysis, almost a quarter of Australians with disabilities smoke when compared to just 12.6% of the wider population.
While the number of Australians smoking is declining, the barriers for people with disabilities mean targeted support is needed to develop healthier habits.
Flinders University and Cancer Council NSW health experts are recommending new strategies to tackle the alarming smoking rate through targeted government policies, data collection on smoking and training for disability support workers on tobacco prevention strategies.
Cancer Council NSW Tobacco Cessation Coordinator and lead author of the paper, Tiana Vourliotis, said a comprehensive approach including smoking cessation services, co-designed programs, and targeted policy initiatives is imperative to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use.
Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute Director and study co-author, Professor Billie Bonevski, says the decrease in the numbers of people who smoke in Australia is not consistent across the whole of society and there remains a significantly higher smoking prevalence among people experiencing social, economic, or cultural disadvantage.
"People with disabilities encounter various obstacles, including lower socioeconomic status, unemployment, and difficulties accessing affordable quit-smoking support. Physical barriers and a shortage of trained professionals make the challenge even greater, hindering their ability to quit smoking," says Professor Bonevski.
"Despite these big challenges, we know that informed policymaking and a dedication to positive health outcomes can drive meaningful reductions in smoking rates for people with disabilities."
Source: Medical Express, 25 January 2024
See also: Vourliotis T, Twyman L, Trigg J, Fairweather AK, Disney G, Lawn S, et al. High tobacco smoking rates in people with disability: An unaddressed public health issue. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2024
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NZ First's Casey Costello hopeful cigarette tax scheme will encourage Kiwis to quit smoking
New Zealand First's Casey Costello believes a potential plan for cigarette taxes will help people quit smoking.
A leaked document shows the Associate Health Minister is getting advice on a potential three-year tax freeze for tobacco.
Costello is also looking at harsher penalties for selling vape products to minors, and freezing tax on smokeless tobacco products.
She says further financial penalties would be too much for them.
"I have some sympathy- let's not continually financially penalise whilst we're managing through getting them off smoking, let's look at some relief."
Source: Newstalk ZB, 25 January 2024
Editorial note: New Zealand First, along with the libertarian Act party, were reportedly responsible for the New Zealand Government’s decision to drop their proposed smoking ban
See also: Tobacco Tactics - Prices and Taxes
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House of Lords Oral Questions – Smokefree 2030
During House of Lord's Oral Questions on Thursday 25th January, Lord Rennard (Lib Dem) asked: “To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards the ambition of creating a “smokefree” generation by 2030.”
Responding for the Government, Lord Markham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, pointed to the upcoming tobacco and vapes bill.
Lord Rennard followed up by highlighting the cuts NHS Integrated Care Boards have been allowed to make to their prevention budgets, including tobacco dependence treatment, and calls for more to be done to help existing smokers quit.
Lord Young of Cookham (Con) called on the Government to introduce a polluter pays levy as recommended in the independent Khan review.
Baroness Blackstone (Lab) highlighted the impact of smoking during pregnancy and called on the Government to ensure that the national financial incentive scheme for pregnant smokers will be continued with adequate resources.
Responding for Labour, Baroness Merron highlighted the slowdown in the decline in smoking rates and asked what the Government was doing to ensure the smoking cessation drug cytisine is available across the country.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab) highlighted Philip Morris’ threat to take legal action against the Government in response to their smokefree generation consultation and asked the Minister to give assurance that the Government would reject any tobacco industry lobbying.
Source: Hansard, 25 Jan 2024
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QI Programme for Tobacco Dependency Treatment
The British Thoracic Society has launched a new Quality Improvement (QI) Programme with the aim of empowering the NHS to develop high quality tobacco dependency treatment services. The QI programme for inpatient tobacco dependency treatment pathways was led by Dr Robyn Fletcher and 25 sites were selected to participate in this programme. Chosen sites received online QI training and support to develop projects to improve the delivery of tobacco dependency treatment.
A report of findings from this programme was produced alongside an infographic highlighting the key achievements from the programme.
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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.
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