ASH Scotland welcomes Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s strong measures to continue driving down tobacco use

ASH Scotland is welcoming the UK Government’s reintroduction of an extended UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill today (Tuesday 5 November 2024) which can help Scotland make further strides towards becoming a tobacco-free society.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We welcome the strong measures proposed in this Tobacco and Vapes Bill to continue driving down use of tobacco – the biggest preventable killer in Scotland causing nearly 9,000 deaths and almost 90,000 hospitalisations a year.

“Regulations which challenge the normalisation of smoking and vaping are required to ensure that people’s surroundings promote health and not health-harming substances. Since 2022, the Scottish Government’s UK-leading move in increasing smoke-free zones to 15 metres from NHS hospital buildings is protecting against second-hand toxic tobacco smoke, and we are supportive of proposals to extend SAFE spaces (smoke-free and aerosol-free environments) especially to areas most frequently used by children.

ASH Scotland also advocates for measures to tackle youth vaping such as making e-cigarettes flavourless due to the health risks from toxic chemicals in e-liquids; and preventing imagery, colours, descriptors and branding on device designs and packaging to reduce the attractiveness of vapes to children.

Sheila Duffy added: “As young people are attracted to flavoured vapes with colourful engaging designs, packaging and displays in shops, it is essential that restrictions are introduced to eliminate the targeted marketing of these health harming devices at children.

“With tobacco industry promotions having lured youngsters into starting to use their addictive, harmful products for decades and the same now happening with e-cigarettes and other products, we look forward to working with the UK Government and the Scottish Government in implementing its Tobacco and Vapes Framework to achieve the goal of a tobacco-free generation in Scotland by 2034.

“Westminster and Holyrood must guard against attempts by the tobacco industry and its allies to delay or weaken the legislation and consequent regulations. Elected representatives owe it to current and future generations to work at pace to ensure robust measures are rapidly implemented to eradicate the health damage being inflicted on people’s lives by profit-centred multi-national corporations, especially in our poorest communities.”