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It’s the new year but the same old political discussions have resumed with the first slew of questions and answers about vaping and tobacco harm reduction

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It’s the new year but the same old political discussions have resumed with the first slew of questions and answers about vaping and tobacco harm reduction. Labour’s Mary Foy began by worrying about vaping industry influence, Mary Glindon injected a modicum of common sense into the debate over ecigs, but (fear not) Lord Bourne returned to worry and concern.

The City of Durham’s Mary Foy asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care whether if he and/or his department has held discussions with representatives of the vaping industry since the general election.

Now, before we consider Andrew Gwynne’s response, just think for a minute about what has taken place since the country marked their X’s. We have seen the confirmation that disposables will be banned, we have had the Tory tax on vaping adopted by Labour in a particularly ridiculous form, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced to the House and passed to the next stage – replete with measures that enable the banning of flavours.

Gwynne, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, told Mary Foy: “Since July 2024, no members of the Department have met with the vaping industry.”

You read that correctly.

The largest measures impacting vaping, smoking, and tobacco harm reduction are being implemented in the UK and the government has chosen to ignore the opinions of or elicit a partnership with the industry poised to transit the UK to a smoke-free society.

Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend’s Mary Glindon attempted to shift the Overton window back towards the centre. She asked the Secretary of State if he will take steps to help increase levels of awareness of the potential merits of switching to vapes and other alternatives to smoking among adult smokers, in the context of nicotine product display restrictions.

Glindon is concerned over the absence of an impact assessment of the new Bill and how the government is set to deter adults who might otherwise smoke cigarettes from using flavoured vapes.

It is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people” - Andrew Gwynne, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care

Andrew Gwynne replied: “The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.

“That is why it is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people, whilst ensuring vapes remain available for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool. Before laying any regulations in Parliament, we will undertake a full public consultation to ensure we get this balance right and consider the views of a range of stakeholders. We will also undertake a full impact assessment on any future flavour restrictions.

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes regulation making powers to limit how nicotine products are displayed. These are also subject to consultation. Adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as other alternative methods to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services, helping thousands of adults each year to live healthier lives. In addition, our national Swap to Stop scheme is supporting adult smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes.”

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, 2025 will see the UK government push forward with a ban on certain popular vape flavours. Happy New Year!

Finally, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth wants His Majesty's Government to put the responsibility for curbing underage vaping on the vaping industry.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Lords, Baroness Merron responded: “It is of great concern that approximately 25% of children aged between 11 and 15 years old have tried vaping. Evidence suggests vaping products are regularly promoted in a way that appeals to children, despite the risks of nicotine addiction.”

Here we go, running with the Conservative’s evidence-free justification of clamping down on the success of vapes.

She continued: “That is why we announced strong measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ban the advertisement and sponsorship of all vapes and nicotine products. It will also stop vapes from being deliberately targeted at children, providing new powers to limit flavours and packaging, and changing how and where they are displayed in shops.

“The Department ran a public consultation in October 2023 which received responses from the vaping industry. The consultation informed the development of the current Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill contains a statutory duty to consult on the use of regulation-making powers related to vaping and other measures. We will consult with the vaping industry at the appropriate time.”

The time for writing to your local MP is now.

Dave Cross avatar

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV
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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.

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