DE_DE 
EU 
FR_BE 
CS 
NL_NL 
EN 
EN_GB 
FR 
IT 
PL 
PT 
ES 
SV 
DE_AU 
DA 
EL 
FI 
HR 
GA 
MT 
RO 
The Daily Mail reports that Scotland is giving serious consideration to implementing a rolling ban on vapes as well as tobacco for children aged 14 and under – described as concerning by consumer organisation the World Vapers’ Alliance. The move replicates the UK Government’s proposals but adds ecigs into the mix.
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, expressed serious reservations about this move: “While the intention to curb smoking is commendable, it’s concerning that the Scottish Government is considering extending this ban to vaping. It’s important to remember that it’s already illegal for teenagers to buy vapes. Adding another layer of prohibition doesn’t solve the underlying issues. Instead, we need to focus on enforcing existing laws more effectively and addressing the reasons why teenagers start smoking or vaping in the first place.”
The Daily Mail’s report suggests that anyone born in 2009 or later – currently 14 or younger – will never be able to buy tobacco or vape products in Scotland legally. This approach, according to Landl, could lead to unintended consequences.
Landl said: “Will there be vape smuggling gangs operating bringing vapes from England into Scotland? As absurd as this sounds, we have seen in the past what prohibition leads to. Prohibition has a history of failure, and this is no different. Banning the most successful smoking cessation tool in history makes little sense and is counterproductive. We have seen similar approaches fail disastrously in Australia, leading to a booming black market.”
Read the full text here
