Mixed views in Belfast over MPs’ call to ease laws on e-cigarettes

A REPORT by MPs calling for a relaxation in e-cigarette laws has received a mixed reception in Northern Ireland.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee (STC) said there should be an urgent review into looking at prescribing e-cigarettes on the NHS.

The report called for a “wider debate” in allowing vaping in public places, and greater freedom to advertise.

Belfast traders said they were seeing a shift in behaviour with customers who ‘dual’ by using both tobacco and e-cigarettes, and an increase in non-smokers wanting to start vaping.

However, some scientists, including public health expert Professor Simon Capewell from Liverpool University, say the report relied on experts who were known e-cig champions.

The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland advised non-smokers not to start smoking or vaping in the first place.

It said that if people did start Debate: Cancer Focus’ Gerry McElwee (top) and tobacconist Niall Coulter to use e-cigarettes, they should still consult one of its stopping smoking services.

Cancer Focus said quitting completely was best, but acknowledged e-cigarettes were safer than tobacco.

The charity’s Gerry McElwee, said quitting was still the safest option. It provides a service with a quit rate of 65% at four weeks.

“There is evidence that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking and can reduce the risk for those smokers who are not yet ready to quit,” he said.

Niall Coulter, owner of the Miss Moran tobacco shop on Church Lane in Belfast, said most of his customers ‘dual’.

He would be opposed to any attempt to put e-cigarettes on the NHS.

“I would be totally against that because if you can afford to smoke you can afford an e-cigarette,” he said.

“In fact, e-cigarettes are cheaper. I think it’s just a blatant attempt by Big Tobacco (the five largest global tobacco companies) to corner the market.

“They’ve invested very heavi- ly in vaping, they’re the ones demanding the legislation to force the smaller producers out.”

He opposed public vaping: “It’s a harmful product so why would you want to introduce that into pubs and restaurants?”

Selling e-cigarettes, he said, had, ironically, helped his shop.

“Most people ‘dual’, which means they smoke normal tobacco and e-cigarettes.”

Norman Harkness, owner of the Vape bar on the Lisburn Road, started smoking at 16 and “gave up trying to give up” until four years ago when he began vaping and started his business.

“Never once have I sold it as a healthy product,” he said. “I have customers coming to me saying they haven’t smoked in two years and that makes me quite proud.

“We always advise a non-smoker to not start vaping; as far as I’m concerned, if you’ve never inhaled anything in your lungs you don’t need to start.

“I don’t think e-cigareettes should be on prescription — there’s an awful lot of machinery and hardware — but they should promote it more.” ”