ASH Scotland, Child Human Rights Defenders and leading children’s doctor call for vape flavours ban, supported by 79% of polled Scots
09 September 2026
A huge majority of people surveyed in Scotland support a ban of all flavourings in vapes and nicotine pouches, according to an opinion poll commission by ASH Scotland gathering views about the UK Government’s current consultation aimed at reducing the appeal of addictive health harming nicotine products to children.
79% of 1,061 survey respondents favour banning added flavourings in vapes, including fruit and sweet flavours, a finding welcomed by ASH Scotland, the Children’s Parliament’s Child Human Right Defenders and a leading Glasgow-based children’s doctor.
The organisations and Dr Ross Langley, a paediatric respiratory consultant at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, are calling on government to introduce the banning of fruit and sweet flavours, a stronger measure than restricting only vape flavour names which is proposed in the current ‘Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display’ consultation.
After gathering evidence from 100 children aged nine to 12, to produce a ‘Vaping’ report, Child Human Rights Defenders (experienced Members of Children’s Parliament) are calling for vapes to be stopped from targeting children by removing sweet and fruity flavours which are the biggest reasons people buy them, and making them plain tasting instead.
Jack Stancliffe, Project Manager at the Children’s Parliament, said “The Child Human Rights Defenders are working to drive change on the flavours and marketing of vapes, and increasing children’s knowledge and understanding of the dangers of vaping. The power of this work, steered entirely by the children, and their ability to push for change using children’s human rights should not be underestimated.”
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With 79% of adults polled in Scotland favouring a ban of added flavours in nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches, we strongly urge the UK Government to go much further by introducing this more robust measure to ban the toxic chemicals in flavourings that have not been safety tested for inhalation, and prevent the tobacco and nicotine industry from continuing to generate massive profits at a cost to children’s health.”
Dr Ross Langley, a paediatric respiratory consultant at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Youth vaping and nicotine addiction is a real and present danger to future lung health and mental wellbeing of a generation. The detrimental effects of smoking took decades to become apparent; therefore, it is imperative that we act now to address the issues of access, availability and marketing of vaping devices – such as banning added sweet and fruit flavours – to prevent children being exposed to harmful chemicals that can lead to direct lung damage and addiction.”
ASH Scotland encourages members of the public and youth groups to read the charity’s views on the proposed measures to protect children’s health at www.ashscotland.org.uk/consultation and submit responses to the consultation on the UK Government’s website.