Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Clause 10

Tory Dr Caroline Johnson began by noting the clause applies to all products that vaporise nicotine products – but not medical devices. Given she was a major part of the Conservative’s version of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that no medically licenced vapes exist!

Dr Johnson is keen that “individual components of reusable vapes are covered by the Bill.”

She also noted that it was important to cover flavourings, “because of their importance in enticing children”.

Readers will note that politicians of all hues focus on the puritanical anti-flavours hysteria throughout the week, ignoring the importance of flavours to adult smokers and successful smoking cessation attempts – and the role flavours play in preventing a relapse back to cigarettes.

“We have heard again and again how the industry will continually evolve to entrap people in a lifetime of nicotine addiction. This wide definition of anything containing nicotine helps to future-proof this legislation such that it does not have to be revisited again and again as the industry continues to evolve,” she continued.

To that end, she attacked snus pouches, a product that has enabled Scandinavian countries like Sweden to hit record low smoking rates.

“We have seen flavours such as lemonade razz and others that are designed with childlike descriptions, perhaps to influence children to use them. Certainly, when I talk to teachers, they say that they starting to see them used in the classroom. They look to parents very much like a small square of chewing gum, and some parents may not be aware of the hazards that these items pose,” Johnson wittered, basing an argument on anecdote and ignorance.

Johnson went on to suggest the nicotine limit in eliquids and pouches needs to be reduced: “The difference is quite marked: people may only take 1.2 mg from a cigarette when they smoke it in the usual way, so 18 mg in an oral nicotine pouch is an awful lot of nicotine. Some online retailers will sell products containing up to 150 mg of nicotine per pouch, with examples of flavours including black cherry, citrus and coffee. The release of nicotine from oral pouches is similar to, or faster than, from smokeless tobacco products and, given the Minister’s robust approach to snus and novel products designed to create addiction, I hope he will take a strong approach to these too.”

Finally, she invented an idea that nicotine itself poses dangers – a compound that multiple reports consider is only as harmful as having a cup of coffee.

“What about the health impact? The health impact of nicotine is another reason why we need to invoke clause 10. Some people say, ‘If you take the nicotine out of the tobacco, maybe that will be safer.’ However, it is safer but not safe.”

Johnson provided absolutely no evidence to support her ridiculous statement.

Opposition Assistant Whip Gregory Stafford agreed with her, highlighting his complete ignorance on the subject: “My hon. Friend is right to highlight all the problems of vapes, especially for children, and the lack of evidence out there, other than that produced by the industry itself. Is she aware of any independent studies, either in the UK or abroad, that have done any substantive investigation into how harmful vapes are, either for adults or for children?”

She replied:

• Nicotine is highly addictive 
• Nicotine can permanently affect the development of the adolescent brain
• The industry targets young people “because the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable”
• Withdrawal symptoms include cravings, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, headaches and other mental symptoms

Lib Dem Danny Chambers laughably added that vaping causes mental health problems.

Johnson agreed with him!

Labour’s Jim Dickson applauded Dr Johnson.

Johnson justifies her blinkered position because “The World Health Organisation proclaims that it does not consider electronic cigarettes a legitimate smoking cessation aid.”

At which point she called for vaping to be treated exactly the same as smoking and included in the generational tobacco ban. It’s frightening how stupid our politicians are being.

“It is important for honourable Members to understand the reason for banning vaping products,” she stated, adding that components of eliquids are found in “antifreeze, paint solvents and artificial smoke for fog machines” – a display of abject scientific ignorance and duplicity.

Finally, MPs actually got around to discussing the prohibition of the sale of vape products to under-18s, something vapers and the ecig industry supports. A shame so much time was wasted on evidence-free prohibitionist waffle from the Tories leading puritanical prohibitionist.

The most important aspect of the Tobacco And Vapes Bill legislation is how it will impact adult smokers and ex-smokers. This debate shamefully highlights how the concern doesn’t register on the political radar any longer.

Photo Credit:

• Author generated image using Grok

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.