Phasing Out Vapes: Ensuring They Aren’t a New Recreational Addiction
Addiction Economy Thought for Today - Phasing out vapes alongside cigarettes signals that's what they are for - our recommendations ahead of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Tuesday.
Joe Woof and I heard back from Andrew Gwynne MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention that they have considered our proposal of phasing out vapes with cigarettes, but the harm is not compelling enough at this point. (We will point out the word 'prevention in his job title in our next communication!)
We are persevering, saying that we need to re-attached vapes to smoking and that phasing them out alongside cigarettes (with a 3 year time lag) sends the right signal that vapes are not about creating a new recreational nicotine addiction - the goal openly acknowledged by cigarette and vape companies - but a useful aid to quit smoking, and that's all.
Other recommendations include:
2. More research on non-pharma cessation for a nicotine-free future. Many smokers successfully quit without vapes or nicotine replacement therapy, and today a study showed that even long term non-smokers are taking up vaping for the nicotine. Studies on Allan Carr's Easyway suggests it is as or better than vapes, it is now on the NHS, so we will see that comparison more clearly next year. Much more must be done to promote and research expensive non-pharma options.
3. Step-up research in non-smokers. The research constantly compares smoking to vaping and we want more qualitative and quantitative research on vaping in non-smokers without comparisons to smoking.
4. Urgent un-addiction help for non-smoking vapers
5. Prohibit 'composite vapes' which put 4 x20ml vapes in one vape, this is the thin end of the wedge in innovation.
6. Focus equally on restricting online marketing and product pricing and design issues. We have 12 different ways they are being marketed as recreational products, there are loads more.
Here's the doc. Love any views.
https://lnkd.in/gkAycahc
Pic: me! Interesting a vape with no colours, almost a retro look I fancy, as thy fade into obscurity (I wish!)