Youth groups invited to join campaign calling for the end of vapes marketing targeting young people

29 May 2024

Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Friday 31 May 2024, ASH Scotland is urging youth groups across the country to join the health charity’s campaign calling for the end of vapes advertising and marketing being targeted at children and young people.

‘Protecting young people from tobacco industry interference’ has been chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the theme for this year’s campaign.

ASH Scotland is aiming to amplify the voices of youth groups and youngsters who want to stop the marketing of sweet flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and their promotion by organisations funded by tobacco firms targeting young people.

The charity believes concerns by the next generation of voters about marketing luring young people to start using and becoming addicted to health harming vapes should be heard loud and clear by all candidates in the General Election.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “In supporting WHO’s World No Tobacco Day 2024 campaign in Scotland, we are keen to hear from children’s and youth groups who want to speak out about predatory tobacco industry marketing tactics promoting vapes and creating a new wave of addiction.

“For decades, tobacco industry promotions lured young people into starting to use their addictive and harmful products and, in recent years, the same is now happening with vapes.

“Vapes contain high levels of nicotine, which is very addictive, as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for breathing in and can damage lungs over time.

“We want to support young people throughout Scotland to raise their concerns about vape marketing that is targeted at them and their friends, and there is no better opportunity than during the General Election campaign!”

For information about ASH Scotland’s World No Tobacco Day campaign, visit www.ashscotland.org.uk/WNTD. Youth clubs interested in joining the charity’s campaign can email: comms@ashscotland.org.uk.