Views sought on e-cigarettes and smoking in cars

Health charity ASH Scotland has welcomed today’s (10 October) launch of a Scottish Government consultation on Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco Control in Scotland.

The consultation calls for views on a range of important measures to protect young people, including: an age restriction on the sale and purchase of e-cigarettes; additional action to control the advertising and promotion of the devices; and legislation to prohibit smoking in vehicles with children on board.

ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government is exploring further measures to tackle the harm caused by smoking as we move towards our goal of a tobacco-free Scotland.

“The issues addressed show the nation’s ongoing, strong commitment to putting smoking out of sight, out of mind and out of fashion for the next generation.

“Smoking rates have decreased significantly, but with one million people in Scotland still exposed to much greater risk of heart disease, a range of cancers, stroke, dementia, arthritis and diabetes, there is more that we can do.

“ASH Scotland supports the proposal for legislation to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s, along with measures to stop adults buying the devices for young people.

“The nicotine in many e-cigarettes is a highly addictive substance, and the companies involved are under strong commercial pressure to recruit new generations into using it.

“We welcome debate about how the devices should be advertised. E-cigarettes should not be promoted in any way that might reasonably be expected to promote smoking tobacco. Advertising should not be targeted at young people, only at existing adult smokers, framed as an alternative to more harmful tobacco products.

“A legislative ban on using e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces would require clear scientific consensus that significant harm from ‘second-hand’ e-cigarette emissions is likely. This is not the situation to date, so we don’t consider a blanket legislative ban is appropriate at this time. However, we welcome discussion of this issue and fully support the right of organisations and venues to decide their own policies.

“We also support legislation to prohibit smoking in cars when children are present and have backed the Member’s Bill at the Scottish Parliament. It is achievable, well-supported by the Scottish public and has the potential to protect thousands of our children from the dangers of breathing second-hand tobacco smoke. This proposal aims to protect children from preventable harm.”

For further information please contact Bob Smyth on 0131 220 9488 or bsmyth@ashscotland.org.uk Out of hours contact 07776 142 299