BAN WON’T DO ANY FLAVOURS
Campaigners claim measure will see people returning to ciggies
MOVES to ban flavoured vapes will see an increase in people returning to smoking, it is claimed.
Campaigners’ calls for action to reduce the attraction of vaping to teenagers and young adults has grown significantly in the last year.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly revealed inten- tions last September to ban disposable e-cigs in a crackdown that also targeted flavours and advertising.
He previously branded flavours “child-friendly”.
TDS then voted in the Dail last November to ban the sale of vaping products to minors.
In the UK, it was revealed in January that a range of flavours could be banned, reducing the number of those available to four in a bid to deter new users.
Yesterday, a new poll was published in
Ireland to reveal a warning that 76% of vapers believe a flavour ban could lead to more young people smoking.
And some 71% claimed smokers would not take up vaping to quit if flavours were banned.
Some vapers claimed that banning them for under 18s would be more effective than a ban on flavoured vapes.
A survey spokesperson said: “One-infive ex-smokers said they will go back to smoking if flavoured vapes were banned.
“Almost two thirds (65%) of those who smoke and vape said they will smoke cigarettes more often.” The research was
94% of rechargeable vapes customers say flavours keep them off smokes
conducted by RED C Research and Marketing.
Its spokesman added: “The independent poll found that fruit, tobacco and menthol flavours continue to be the most popular among vapers.
“An overwhelming 94% of those using rechargeable vapes, which are used by more than half (55%) of all vapers, say flavours help them stay off cigarettes entirely.
“Some 79% of disposable vapes users say they like to try out different flavours. If disposable vapes were banned, 52% said they will source them online from abroad. An overwhelming majority (76%) of vapers believe a ban on all flavours could lead to more young people smoking. Some 71% of those surveyed felt that smokers would be less inclined to take up vaping to quit if flavours were banned and that such a ban will lead to black market activity.
“Some 90% of those surveyed also believe that such an overall ban could lead to a black market for flavoured vapes. Almost half (49%) said they would source flavours from outside Ireland if a ban was introduced.
“Fruit flavours are the most commonly used flavours by vapers (35% use these most frequently).
“These are followed by tobacco (27%) and menthol flavours (24%).”