Ban on flavoured vapes would be ‘massive own goal’, campaigners warn

Smokers’ rights campaigners have flayed the reported plans to ban flavoured vapes, saying it would be a “massive own goal”.

According to reports, the government is considering a ban on some flavoured vapes to discourage children from vaping.

“If the Government’s goal is to reduce smoking rates, banning flavoured vapes would be a massive own goal,” Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest, said.

“Vaping has been a huge success story, with millions of smokers choosing to switch to a far less harmful product. Flavours are an important part of the appeal of vaping to adult smokers who wish to quit.

“The answer to the problem of children vaping is not to ban a product adults enjoy but to crack down on retailers who are breaking the law and selling e-cigarettes to anyone under 18.”

Vape retailer Scotvapes, which has launched a campaign protesting the efforts to ban the single use vapes in Scotland, has also defended the flavours in an open letter to ministers.

The letter states that the different flavours of e-liquid are a huge contributory factor in enabling vapers to move away from traditional cigarettes, reducing the association to traditional cigarettes.

“There is no need for nicotine to be associated with tobacco anymore. A flavour ban only helps the tobacco industry,” it added.