Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Clause 15
MPs discussed ‘Free distribution and discount of products’ as part of a debate on amendments to Clause 15 of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
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by Dave Cross
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The next part of this effective foray into the warped mind of Dr Caroline Johnson, Planet of the Vapes looks at the debate on amendments to Clause 13 of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, where MPs considered ‘Displays of products or prices in England’. The debate took place in a public committee. It began well, very well, but then it went all Dr Caroline Johnson.
The Conservative’s Jack Rankin began proceedings by giving an overview of his opinion detailing how he supports the Government when it comes to tobacco products, but he reckons there is a legitimate and responsible avenue for vaping and nicotine products to offer discounts, “particularly in the example that I gave, where a responsible vaping company was in partnership with the NHS to help to achieve the aim of the Bill of a smoke-free generation.”
Rankin pledged to vote against restricting respectable companies from offering discounts on vape devices and eliquids.
Then, like a shark fin swimming through the waters of political debate, with the music from Jaws playing in the background, Caroline Johnson readied herself to launch into another exhalation of unrequired words.
“Clause 15 makes it an offence to give away or discount any vape product. That is important because discounts encourage us to buy more things. That is what they are there for; it is what promotions are for. They encourage us to buy things that we did not want or need. We do not want people to consume excessive quantities of vapes that they do not want to have, but that does happen,” she said, like an 8-year-old giving their oral homework report on what the word ‘marketing’ means.
Does she seriously think vapers vape more because they got a discount on their eliquid order?
Sadly, she probably does.
“A cursory glance on the internet shows that numerous websites are advertising vape discount codes and vouchers offering 10% or 15% discounts on vapes, as well as giftcards that are readily available for online purchase.”
Does Caroline Johnson do more (unwanted) washing if she gets 25% extra free washing powder? The public deserves to know.
Then she turned to the evil that is supplying free samples to teens.
“My own parliamentary staffer went to a promotional event on vaping held in Parliament itself, in this very House, and was given free samples of Vuse vapes. I have been made aware by staffers that similar events take place outside Parliament.”
Ah, those evil sausages at Vuse giving away free vapes to, err, child workers in the House of Commons? Shouldn’t Dr Johnson be employing adults as full-time members of staff? It certainly explains some nagging questions about the research she has produced to feed her opinions…
Andrew Gwynne, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, rounded the debate up by stating: “It should never have been the case that addictive nicotine and vaping products could be legally handed out for free.”
Someone needs to remind Gwynne that the NHS gives away free starter kits to smokers.
Photo Credit:
Author generated image using Grok
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave 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.
