By Tiange Cao
ASH Scotland announced on 6 December 2023 its support for the proposals set out in the consultation on “Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping”, this event is running by the UK Government and devolved administrations.
ASH Scotland supports proposals to:
Restrict e-cigarette flavourings
Restrict packaging and marketing
Ban disposable vaping products
Calls to ban the use of e-cigarettes among young people are growing as more and more young people take up the habit. According to a survey by NHSinform, in Scotland, children as young as 11 say they have tried vaping. By the age of 15, around a third of young people say they have tried them.
How serious is this phenomenon?
Sam, a staff at the L&M store told us that although there are signs in shops reminding minors that they are not allowed to buy vapes and that the salesperson will check their ID cards as well, Sometimes adults would even offer to buy vapes for their children.
“Sometimes they just ask them like what vape do you want? What kind of flavours do you want? And they just took it from us and then give their children.”
One Ayr collage student said she chose to vape under pressure during the pandemic since she is teenager. “I started smoking in 2017 and then switched to vape in 2022 or 2021, almost during the pandemic.”
This student, who is currently in the process of quitting smoking, told us why she chose e-cigarettes at the time.
“I started vaping now because I’d heard it was healthier than cigarettes until I’ve now moved from India to Scotland so I need to save on my budget. Now I’m trying to quit it because it’s not actually healthy.”
What attracts teenagers?
Vapes come in many shapes, sizes and colours. Some can be disguised as items such as pens and USB memory sticks.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Scottish health charity ASH, said: “Children and young people are attracted to the taste and smell of fruit and sweet flavoured e-cigarettes, as well as the colourful engaging designs, packaging and marketing of vapes – especially disposables which can cost as little as £2 and are the vaping product of choice for the majority of youngsters.”
Sales Sam told us that his shop carries hundreds of different flavours of vapes, such as Gummy Bears, which are easily enjoyed by children and teenagers.
To teenagers who are addicted to e-cigarettes, he said,
“It’s not cool, no less harmful to your body than traditional cigarettes, so please think more about your health, think about your parents and focus on your goal and achieve something.”
What could we do for stopping vaping?
Elspeth McQuaker, a staff member at the UWS Ayr Campus, presented some of the school’s actions that: “All smoking and vaping are banned on campus and in buildings.”
The Scottish charity ASH also said in its report that “We are calling for an outright ban of single-use disposable e-cigarettes on both public health and environmental grounds”
Other strong measures:
- The standardisation of vaping device designs and packaging through preventing the use of imagery, colours and branding
- Reduce the attractiveness of products to children.
- All e-cigarettes to be hidden from view in retail environments
For more media information:
Stoneylee Stores: 01236 732187 https://g.co/kgs/H4UavP
UWS Ayr Accommodation: uws.ac.uk/ayr
NHS inform Report: https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/vaping/
UWS Newsroom 