Government responds to Industry Petition

Speaking on behalf of the industry, Greig Fowler, Director at VPZ, told Planet of the Vapes News readers: “Some studies show flavoured vapes can help people stop smoking. Vape flavours play a crucial role in smoking cessation by helping smokers’ transition away from tobacco, helping to provide an alternative source of sensory satisfaction while breaking the psychological associations tied to smoking. 

“We believe limiting flavour options risks pushing users back to cigarettes or other products, endangering public health. We believe flavoured vaping products already play a crucial role in helping smokers quit smoking cigarettes. Restricting flavours could bring more harm than good, revering smoking cessation progress or even pushing users to dangerous black-market products.”

Currently, the petition has 12,120 signatures.

Responding, the Department of Health and Social Care says: “Further consultation will occur before introduction of any specific restrictions on vape flavours. To avoid unintended consequences on smoking rates, the any restrictions will be carefully considered.

“Our health advice is clear, whilst vapes can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children should never vape.

“Due to the branding and advertising of vapes to children, youth vaping has more than doubled in the last 5 years and one-in-four 11-15-year olds tried vaping in 2023. Due to nicotine content and the unknown long-term harms, vapes and nicotine products carry risk of harm and addiction; this is particularly acute for adolescents whose lungs and brains are still developing.

“That is why this Government is committed to bringing about definitive and positive change to stop future generations from becoming hooked on nicotine – and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes landmark policies to achieve this.

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes measures and powers that will reduce the appeal and availability of all vapes and other nicotine products to children. Amongst the regulation making powers is one that will enable government to introduce future limits on flavours.

“There are a vast and diverse variety of flavours on the UK market, many with attractive wording and names that entice children to try vaping. Evidence shows that children are attracted to the fruit and sweet flavours of vapes, both in their taste and smell, as well as how they are described. As stated in a recent ASH survey, the most frequently used vape flavouring for young people is ‘fruit flavour’ with 59% of current child vapers using these flavours. 16% of children who vape also choose sweet flavours such as chocolate or candy.”

The government says the survey can be viewed here: www.ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-vapes-among-young-people-in-Great-Britain-2024.pdf.

Continuing, the Department adds: “It is the Government’s view that restricting flavours that appeal to children has the potential to reduce the number of children who are vaping. There is no reason that flavours like “gummy bear” and “cotton candy” should be available, flavours like these are not necessary for smoking cessation purposes and overtly appeal to children.

“In considering the specific restrictions we bring forward, we are keenly aware that vaping is rightly used by adults as a tool to quit smoking. Vapes are less harmful than cigarettes, and vape flavours are an important consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.

“We are conscious of the need to avoid unintended consequences on adult smoking rates, and therefore the scope and impact of any restrictions will be carefully considered and weighed against evidence. That is why we will be consulting further on these measures as soon as possible after Royal Assent of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and we would invite people to submit their views and evidence for consideration as part of that process.

“Regulations on flavours that are subsequently drafted will be subject to parliamentary debate and vote before becoming law.”

It is clear that the government still intends to restrict popular flavoured pods and vape juices. The petition runs to the 7 September 2025, so you can add your name if you’ve yet to do it. The petition isn’t restricted to vapers – family and friends can also support flavoured products because they’ve seen they helped you to quit smoking.

The petition will be considered for debate in Parliament at 100,000 signatures.

References:

• The petition to the Department of Health and Social Care -https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/713128

Photo Credit:

• Protestor photo by Guillaume Issaly on Unsplash

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.