Harsh restrictions on vapes more likely to lead to ‘murder and mayhem’ than be a fix for youth vaping: Colin Mendelsohn

The proposed regulations on vapes in the UK could lead to unintended consequences similar to those observed in countries like Australia, where strict e-cigarette laws have resulted in criminal turf wars and increased gang violence, an expert has said.

As the UK prepares for a general election in a few weeks, both Labour and the Conservatives said they will revive the Tobacco and Vapes Bill after the election, which contains stringent measures on safer nicotine products.

“While well intended, highly restrictive regulations just don’t work”, Dr Colin Mendelsohn told delegates at the Global Forum on Nicotine on Thursday. “But British politicians are clearly not paying attention and have learned nothing from the mayhem unfolding in other parts of the world.”

Dr. Mendelsohn, the founding chairman of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and this year’s recipient of the Michael Russell Award, highlighted the chaos in Australia as a cautionary tale.

“History has shown that harsh restrictions on a popular product simply send it underground,” he said.

“People find other ways of getting it. In Australia, the regulations of e-cigarettes are so onerous that they are effectively banned. There is now a thriving and violent black market. Fire-bombings are commonplace. People are being murdered. The government has effectively handed control of the market to organised crime, and rival gangs are engaged in a turf war to control market share.”

Dr. Mendelsohn emphasised the dire consequences of Australia’s harsh measures, noting that they have resulted in three murders and approximately 80 fire-bombings of tobacco shops selling illegal products.

“90 per cent of vape products are illicit and completely unregulated,” he said, adding that Australia now has one of the highest youth vaping rates in the Western world.

One of the key measures under consideration in the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the power to ban flavours in e-cigarettes. Additionally, the government plans to introduce a steep new vape tax on top of the existing 20 per cent VAT.

“Australia’s experience shows that highly restrictive policies lead to substantial unintended, harmful consequences,” Dr. Mendelsohn stated. “Politicians have a responsibility to understand the affect the policies they are pushing are likely to have in the real world. When policy fails, the costs – monetary or otherwise – can be significant.”

The UK has been recognised as a world leader in tobacco harm reduction, with sensible, evidence-based policies that have significantly reduced smoking rates and improved public health. Dr. Mendelsohn cautioned that the proposed measures could undermine this progress and urged policymakers to reassess their approach before it’s too late.

Dr. Mendelsohn has been chosen for this year’s Michael Russell Award, presented each year at the Global Forum on Nicotine in memory of Professor Michael Russell, a psychiatrist and research scientist, who was a pioneer in the study of tobacco dependence and the development of treatments to help smokers quit.