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: “Vaikka tupakoinnin hillitsemispyrkimys on kiitettävää, on huolestuttavaa, että Skotlannin hallitus harkitsee tämän kiellon laajentamista koskemaan myös sähkösavukkeita. On tärkeää muistaa, että sähkösavukkeiden ostaminen on jo laitonta teini-ikäisille. Uuden kieltotason lisääminen ei ratkaise taustalla olevia ongelmia. Sen sijaan meidän on keskityttävä nykyisten lakien tehokkaampaan täytäntöönpanoon ja puututtava syihin, miksi teini-ikäiset aloittavat tupakoinnin tai sähkösavukkeiden käytön.”
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.”
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