STURGEON: WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO BAN VAPE ADS
Consultation to be held on e-cigarettes
THE Scottish Government could introduce a ban on advertising for e-cigarettes and vaping products.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said a consultation on the move would take place in the “coming months”.
She pledged if evidence supported further regulations on the sale of such products her Government would “not hesitate” to act.
Sturgeon spoke out after being asked about deaths in the US that have been attributed to vaping.
Three confirmed cases and two probable cases of vapingassociated pulmonary disease have been reported to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
While an estimated 3.6million people in the UK use e-cigarettes and vaping devices, Sturgeon said their popularity in Scotland was still “relatively low”.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, she added: “The approach we have taken has been very cautious.
“That is perhaps one reason why e-cigarette use remains relatively low in Scotland.”
She added: “Our approach has been a precautionary one, which is why in Scotland we have already taken the strictest regulatory approach in Europe to vaping products. The European Tobacco Products Directive restricts the advertising of e-cigarettes and ensures e-liquids can’t contain ingredients which are known to be harmful.
“The directive also limits the concentration of nicotine in e-liquids.
“We’ve also introduced a retail register, a mandatory age verification scheme and we have funded trading standards departments in all council areas to ensure that retailers comply with the regulations.
“And in the coming months, we will consult on introducing a complete ban on the advertising and promotion of vapour products.”
Sturgeon said: “These are relatively new devices and therefore their impact continues to be studied. We don’t yet fully understand what that impact is.”