With a government review of vaping, changes are coming.
The future of vaping in the UK is under review by the government. Although vaping is sometimes perceived as a less risky alternative to smoking, there are still some concerns associated with it. One of the most damaging issues is the irresponsible behaviour of certain retailers who ignore regulations by selling illegal vaping products. Let’s take a look at some of the changes the government could implement.
Flavour restrictions and bans
E-cigarettes have become a popular and effective way of quitting smoking in the UK, largely due to the variety of flavours they offer. According to government reports, only about 25% of adults in the UK use tobacco e-liquids. IBVTA members report between 78% and 90% of customers prefer non-tobacco juices. Another reform might be to remove sweet flavours that might appeal to children, but these are the most popular[1].
Removing the option of flavours would be a catastrophic decision by the UK government. The extreme of this is only tobacco e-liquids to be available. This would limit the choices of juice manufacturers within the UK, with little variation available from the best selling UK brands. Also, flavour brands don’t work. There has been numerous studies on the impact of flavour bans globally. The conclusion of all of them is that the number of vapers drops and smokers rises . This counteracts the ‘smoke free 2030‘ plans and might derail them completely.
A flavour ban could also create a huge increase in the black market of illegal vapes, which is already an issue. This has been proven in the USA, where strict limitations have caused a surge in unregulated vape products[2]. This is something the government need to avoid if they want to support future of vaping in the UK.
Removing vapes from view in shops
Cigarettes have to be removed from display so that they’re not promoted to non-smokers. Applying the same restrictions to e-cigs would negatively impact perceptions of vaping. As revealed by Action on Smoking Health (ASH), “Four in ten smokers incorrectly believe vaping is as or more harmful than smoking”[3].
However, this could be a positive change for reducing underage vaping. Devices and liquid would still be allowed to be displayed in dedicated vape shops. Meaning that adult smokers would still be able to seek advice and browse products in a suitable environment. Respectable vape retailers have experience with age restricted sales and are more likely to use proper procedure such as ‘challenge 25’.
Changing packaging
This wouldn’t be a problem for most vapers and wouldn’t stop e-cigarettes from being used. The main issue with plain packaging is the social perception of vaping. There are already nicotine warning labels that, by law, have to cover 30% of the packaging[4]. These are shared by cigarette packaging, which can cause people to think that vaping is just as harmful of smoking. The use of cartoons and mascots on branding could appeal to children, but responsible retailers wouldn’t sell these anyway. If a change is to be made it should be restricting these ranges and not impacting products that already have packaging that is plain enough.
Restricting disposables
Underage vapers mainly use disposables as they’re cheap and available in various stores. Logically, banning them would greatly impact the number of children who use them. However, Australia have heavily restricted vaping and has seen in increase in underage use[5]. Also, it would have a knock-on effect on adult smokers who are on a low income[6]. Disposables are a cheap and easy to use entry point to vaping.
Higher taxes on vapes
Recent government proposals suggest that taxes and duty on vaping devices may increase. However, experts have warned that such a move could have negative consequences. Research has shown that taxing vapes can lead to decreased usage among 18-25 year olds, but can also result in increased smoking rates[7]. A nicotine tax is under review in the USA and could make vaping cost more than smoking.
Additionally, it may contribute to the growth of the black market by making illegal devices more affordable. Therefore, policymakers need to carefully consider the potential effects of any tax increase on vaping devices.
In conclusion
Although the future of vaping in the UK is a little uncertain at the moment, it’s still a government-promoted and safer alternative to smoking. To prevent a decrease in available options and an increase in prices, proposed regulations should take into account the opinions of both vapers and the available evidence.
Sources
[1] IBVTA. (2022). IBVTA responds to Sunday Times article on calls to ban flavoured vape products in Scotland.
[2] Jewett, C. (2023). New York Times. Illicit E-Cigarettes Flood Stores as F.D.A. Struggles to Combat Imports.
[3]Action on Smoking Health. (2023). Use of e-cigarettes among adults in Great Britain.
[4] Medic Pro. What should appear on an e-liquid warning label?
[5] Mendelsohn, Dr C. (2022). A 12-month review of Australia’s prescription-only regulations for nicotine vaping – a predictable policy failure.
[6] Griffiths, Dr S. Yorkshire Cancer Research. (2023). Statement: Disposable vaping ban could affect some of the most vulnerable.
[7] Friedman, A. S. & Pesko, M. F. (2022). Young adult responses to taxes on cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
