European tobacco control experts urge Scotland’s politicians to back Bill aiming to tackle youth nicotine addiction

Leading European tobacco control experts are encouraging politicians in Scotland and across the UK to support strong measures in the UK Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is progressing through the parliamentary process and is at report stage in the House of Lords.

The call comes ahead of representatives from the World Health Organization’s European Office and the Smoke Free Partnership (a European coalition of tobacco control non-governmental organisations) addressing health charity ASH Scotland’s Learning Day in Edinburgh today (26 February 2026).

Kristina Mauer-Stender, Tobacco Control Advisor at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe, said: “Alongside progress in reducing smoking rates, we are observing a new development with WHO estimating for the first time that global e-cigarette use includes 15 million children aged 13-15. This means we are now addressing challenges on two fronts – conventional tobacco, where harm is indisputable and unfinished work remains, and also rapidly evolving nicotine products marketed aggressively and reaching young people at alarming speed.

“Children are now, on average, nine times more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes, and recent UK evidence shows overall nicotine use among young people is increasing. A precautionary principle remains vital, as it is about children’s rights to health and the right of future generations to grow up free from engineered addiction.”

Studies consistently show that young people who use vapes are up to three times at greater risk of starting to smoke tobacco and this is a huge public health concern.

Kristina Mauer-Stender added: “Scotland’s smoke-free legislation demonstrated what courageous health leadership can achieve. Scotland can lead again by placing the public health of especially children first; with protections extended to match today’s reality by closing loopholes exploited by new products, strong enforcement and decisive action on the drivers of youth uptake: attractiveness, affordability, availability, and promotion.

“Scotland’s tobacco-free 2034 ambition need not remain a dream – it can become a legacy protecting generations to come.”

Erin Roman, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership, said: “Among young people, cigarette smoking has fallen in many countries, yet experimentation with nicotine products, particularly e-cigarettes, has increased. Nicotine has not disappeared from young people’s environments; it has changed form. Between 2020 and 2023, youth uptake of e-cigarettes rose, alongside a modest but notable increase in nicotine pouch use.

“Various countries in Europe have already taken swift steps to regulate oral nicotine products. In Denmark, measures include limits to nicotine content, bans on advertising, limits to flavours and higher taxation and, in Belgium and the Netherlands, governments successfully banned oral nicotine products altogether.

“Smoke-free laws, including in Scotland, did more than reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Visibility in shared spaces influences social norms, especially for young people. Smoke-free spaces reduced behavioural cues to smoke and limited triggers to relapse, and the same logic applies today when commercialised nicotine use is visible. With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill making progress, Scotland will have an opportunity to address this challenge.”

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Evidence presented by WHO (Europe), the Smoke Free Partnership and ASH Scotland’s own analysis suggests that young people are being enticed to use vapes and other new addictive and health harming products such as nicotine pouches. This helps the tobacco and nicotine industry to generate huge profits into the future, at a long-term cost to the health of our young people.

“Robust measures proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to restrict the advertising and promotions of vapes and nicotine pouches to reduce their visibility and availability are vital to protect the health of children now and of future generations.

“The Bill is being watched closely by our tobacco control advocacy colleagues across Europe, and we strongly urge elected representatives in Scotland and across the UK to pass the Bill as a matter of urgency and to follow through by implementing strong regulations.”