ASH Scotland welcomes Scottish Government's proposals to restrict advertising and promotion of vape products

ASH Scotland is welcoming Scottish Government proposals, announced today (Thursday 3^rd February 2022), to restrict the advertising and promotion of vaping products to protect children, young people and adult non-smokers, as part of Scotland’s drive to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

Health charity ASH Scotland is encouraging all public health advocates to support proposals outlined in the government’s consultation paper to restrict the advertising of vaping products on spaces such as billboards and bus shelters, and to limit promotional or sponsorship activities and the distribution of free or cut-price samples. 

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Promoting novel products is one way in which the tobacco industry is seeking to reach current and future generations of potential consumers.

“Nicotine is highly addictive, and these are age-restricted products for good reason. They are not harmless. Curbing the advertising and promotions of recreational nicotine and tobacco products like these is vital to protect youngsters from being encouraged to experiment.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s proposals for important precautionary steps to curb the promotion of vape products to protect Scotland’s health.”

Public Health Minister, Maree Todd, said: “Scotland has a world-leading approach to public health initiatives. The impact on health by the long-term use of vaping products is not known, and we believe these products should only be used as a short-term measure to help people stop smoking tobacco – which is an almost uniquely harmful product.

“That is why we are launching this consultation to gather public views on proposals which are aimed at stopping young people and non-smokers from being encouraged to start vaping.  Most vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and many contain toxic chemicals that could damage health over time. 

“To reduce harms, we encourage non-smokers to avoid taking up vaping whilst encouraging people who currently smoke tobacco to consider using vapes as a way to stop-smoking.”

For details about the Scottish Government’s Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products consultation paper, go to www.gov.scot/publications

-ENDS-

For media enquiries:

ASH Scotland, media@ashscotland.org.uk

Notes for editors:

• ASH Scotland – Action on Smoking and Health Scotland – is the independent Scottish charity taking action to reduce harm caused by tobacco. We seek to improve health and quality of life by helping to create a society which supports young people in remaining tobacco-free, helps those who want to stop smoking, protects people from second-hand smoke and challenges the inequalities resulting from tobacco use. Our activities include an expert information service, campaigning for political action on tobacco and health, supporting community groups to help their service users affected by tobacco use, building public support and awareness for making Scotland free from tobacco and supporting charities, enforcement agencies, the NHS and others to make their contribution to achieving that goal.