Gareth Johnson is the MP for Dartford and chairs the newly launched APPG for Accountable Vaping
Most will agree that youngsters shouldn’t be vaping and that those that have by no means vaped mustn’t begin. Nonetheless, we should be sure that any future regulatory regime is proportionate and doesn’t hamper the advantages that vaping can carry to serving to grownup people who smoke quit smoking.
With the publication on Wednesday of the Tobacco and Vapes Invoice, it’s well timed that we have now launched the All-Social gathering Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Accountable Vaping. The group will present parliamentarians with the chance to scrutinise the Authorities’s proposals and to assist be sure that they’re balanced and workable.
As somebody all in favour of vaping for a while, I’m happy to be chairing this new group that may carry collectively MPs and Friends from throughout the political spectrum, together with a former Well being Secretary.
Supported by the Impartial British Vape Commerce Affiliation, the APPG will act as a focus for vaping points inside Parliament, notably in making illustration to the Authorities because it seeks to introduce a raft of measures within the coming months, together with a brand new vape tax and a ban on disposable vapes. The Invoice will even give the Authorities wide-ranging and at present undefined enabling powers to manage packaging, show, and flavours.
The sheer quantity of laws within the sector over the following 18 months is appreciable. We should get the steadiness proper. Hundreds of thousands of people who smoke have stop as a consequence of switching to vaping however there are nonetheless 6.4 million UK people who smoke. IBVTA analysis exhibits 46 per cent of people who smoke and 37 per cent of ex-smokers within the UK have used vaping as a instrument to kick cigarettes, contributing to round 70,000 extra stop makes an attempt annually, and a considerable 72 per cent of ex-smokers (stop prior to now 5 years) stating that vapes helped obtain a smoke-free life.
IBVTA additionally analysis discovered that of people who vape, 41 per cent used fruit flavours, and eight per cent used different flavours corresponding to cola and vanilla most frequently. 59 per cent report that having a variety of flavours helps them to cut back their smoking or deters them from going again to smoking. Disproportionate restrictions on flavours would clearly deter people who smoke from quitting and undermine the Authorities’s ambitions for a smoke-free future by 2030
The APPG will even wish to perceive and spotlight greatest practices within the sector in supporting adults to stop smoking in addition to addressing key points together with stopping youngsters from accessing vapes, defending the setting, and tackling the illicit vape commerce.
The {industry} is making important efforts to deal with these points together with launching an {industry} code of conduct with adjustments to merchandise, descriptors and flavours. However extra can clearly be completed and the APPG will play a job right here in encouraging and highlighting industry-led enchancment.
Vaping has the potential to avoid wasting so many extra lives. If half each present smoker quits, it might save the NHS £500 million per yr. However it’s essential as this laws is designed and strikes ahead onto the statute guide, that there’s a sturdy voice on vaping in parliament.
I’d thus urge ministers to constructively have interaction with the APPG over the approaching months to make sure that the regime we find yourself with is truthful and balanced, and safeguards youngsters and the setting, with out risking the numerous advantages that vaping can carry.