SGF has strongly criticised proposals to give the Scottish government wide-ranging powers to ban the advertising of electronic cigarettes. The proposals are contained in the new Health Bill currently being scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament Health Committee.
The Bill aims to introduce restrictions on the sale of what it describes as nicotine vapour products (NVPs) such as e-cigarettes and shisha pipes. These restrictions will include:
- a minimum purchase age of 18,
- prohibiting the sale of NVPs via vending machines,
- requiring NVP retailers to register on the tobacco retailer register,
- prohibit ‘proxy-purchasing’ for under 18s,
- restrict domestic advertising and promotions,
- implement an age verification policy for the sale of NVPs,
- a ban on staff under the age of 18 from selling tobacco and NVPs.
In its submission to the Committee’s call for evidence on the draft Bill, SGF said it was vital that point of sale advertising should be exempt from any bans and that this should be made absolutely clear in the amended version of the Bill to be put before Parliament. The submission also highlighted a position statement sent to the Director of the World Health Organisation from a panel of public health experts. The position statement made it clear that any advertising bans would be ‘counterproductive’ and significantly reduce the potential of e-cigarettes to enable people to move away from tobacco products.
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema (pictured) said: “We support many of the proposals in the draft bill, particularly on age restricting electronic cigarettes: our members are fully committed to selling these products responsibly and already treat them as being age-restricted. However, it makes no sense to impose a ban on advertising: there is already an advertising code of practice and we need to develop the potential of nicotine vapour products to help people move away from tobacco. Additionally, there is no evidence that e-cigarettes act as a gateway into smoking tobacco for young people.”
