Vape activists claim Government ban of disposable e-cigarettes ‘will cause one in five users to return to tobacco’
- Vape advocates say a ban would cause one in five to return to smoking tobacco
Vaping advocates have criticized the government’s plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes and their sweet flavors, claiming it would switch one in five users back to smoking.
Legislation to allow for tougher restrictions was announced in the King’s Speech last Tuesday, with ministers said to consider limiting vape flavors to tobacco and mint, banning shop displays, introducing plain packaging and a total ban on disposable vapes.
Last month, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he was particularly concerned about the “way in which vapes are marketed to children, making them look like sweets.”
The environmental impact of millions of single-use items containing batteries accumulating in landfill was also of concern.
However, the move could backfire, says David Phillips of Vape Superstore, who surveyed 1,000 customers and found that 21 percent of disposable vape users would return to smoking.
Candy and fruit flavored disposable vapes aimed at teenagers could be banned, it has been claimed (file photo)
Experts have highlighted concerns that children are not fully aware of the contents of e-cigarettes, with many so worried about their next ‘fix’ that they are begging teachers to let them vape in schools
The poll also suggested that banning sugary ‘e-liquids’ – used with refillable vape pens – would result in a third of vapers returning to tobacco, while one in seven would resort to buying products with their favorite flavor on the black market. These findings echo previous research that suggested flavors were a key reason for smokers to switch to vaping.
Research has also found that measures such as plain packaging gave the false impression that smoking and vaping were equally harmful, making smokers less likely to switch.
Professor Alan Boobis, head of the UK Committee on Toxicity, told the MoS earlier this year: ‘I don’t think anyone who has looked carefully at the research would say there is evidence that vaping is harmful.’
In addition to nicotine, vapors also contain chemicals, including preservatives and flavorings. But, Prof Boobis added, levels of most of these are ‘very low and comparable or lower than the amount normally found in the air’.
Mr Phillips said: ‘It is alarming to see that one in five vapers would consider taking up smoking again if disposable vapes were banned.’
Vape use has risen from about 700,000 adult users in 2012 to 4.7 million this year.
According to the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), around 2.7 million of these are ex-smokers.