A HOSTILE ATTITUDE TO NICOTINE

According to NHS data from 2019 there were an estimated 74,600 deaths attributable to smoking.

This figure represents 15% of all deaths in 2019.

Deaths attributable to smoking are down compared to the previous decade at 18% of all deaths in 2009. This is compared to just 4 vaping related deaths as of 2020. It has been more difficult to collate data on smoking and vaping deaths since the pandemic.

One of the largest problems facing healthcare charities and the NHS is misinformation surrounding the harm of vaping. The NHS has a web page devoted to vaping myths and the facts.

But all public bodies working together with the same agenda. In 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued warnings about the health risks associated with vaping.

The UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies at the University of Nottingham responded that: "WHO does not correctly position electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as an alternative to smoking and instead focusses excessively on risks of ENDS without adequately recognising the deep reduction in health risks."

There are concerns regarding the bill that there is a vilification of nicotine as a substance as a whole when the real danger, is combustible smoking.

Louise Ross is the former chair of the New Nicotine Alliance and has worked in the field of tobacco control for over 20 years.

Ross said: "There are unintended consequences with the legislation that may mean people continue to smoke. We hear from the stop smoking service now that people think vaping is more harmful than smoking."

The Stop Smoking Service is a service provided by the NHS and local councils across England aiming at providing people with support to quit smoking. Other parts of Britain have similar services.

She continued: "My biggest fear with this bill is that because it lumps vapes in with smoked tobacco, people think they are equally bad and so it doesn't really matter whether people smoke or vape. I'd much rather some clarity be brought to the subject and people realised vaping was much less harmful than smoking."

Simon Clark is the director of the smoker's lobby group FOREST (Freedom organisation for the right to enjoy tobacco), the only group of its kind in the country.

Clark said: “Disposable vapes have been hugely popular with smokers who are trying to quit because they are as convenient and easy to use as a combustible cigarette. 

"Banning single use vapes is a disproportionate response to youth vaping and environmental concerns that could and should have been addressed by other means, including education and enforcement of existing laws."

A spokesperson for LOST MARY, one of the prominent manufacturers of vapes in the UK, said: “Our products are designed as smoking cessation tools for adults, with 68% of UK adults who vape to quit smoking using our brands at least once a week.* As a responsible brand, we are committed to youth access prevention and do not market to children. 

“LOST MARY follows the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) code of conduct, which calls for an end to the use of inappropriate imagery and language on packaging and descriptors. In line with this, we have removed descriptors and certain flavours that may unintendedly appeal to children. We also do not promote our products on social media platforms and our packaging features an age restriction symbol and clear labelling stating that sales to children are prohibited.

“We actively support responsible retailing as members of the IBVTA, Association of Convenience Stores, Scottish Grocers’ Federation and Retail NI. This includes the Challenge 25 programme for age-restricted products. 

“It is also important to recognise that the single-use ban was introduced through existing environmental regulation – and must be seen as part of broader measures to regulate the vape market, that we welcome. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently before Parliament gives ministers the power to introduce further steps, including restrictions on advertising, point-of-sale displays, a ban on vending machines selling vapes, the end to the use of cartoon imagery, and powers to introduce a licensing scheme – all of which we support.

“It is illegal for under-18s to purchase vapes and we want to see more resources for enforcement, which the licensing scheme could help fund. Tougher penalties for those breaking the law are needed too. We also back the introduction of the excise tax, commencing October 2026, that will raise the price point of vapes and reduce affordability to children.”

* Opinium survey of 6,000 UK adults (December 2024)

There are already loopholes being found in the legislation with many single use manufacturers simply changing their design and manufacturing process.

Ross said: "I think there will always be ways of getting around things like this and I'm afraid that this will be exploited.

"You've got to remember that trading standards are going to be chasing around illegal vapes. They're not going to be able use their resources to find illegal tobacco.

"Young people starting to use tobacco is even more of a health and social problem than vaping."

Vaping companies are changing designs of their products to fit the requirements of the legislation.

Many of the devices now contain a removable pod that can be bought separately from the main device and have charging ports.

"Young people starting to use tobacco is even more of a health and social problem than vaping."

Louise Ross, NNA

A spokesperson for LOST MARY said:“LOST MARY’s reusable product designs follow both the letter and spirit of the single-use vapes ban legislation. Our devices are built for long-term use – for example, the LOST MARY BM600 Prefilled Pod Kit’s battery can be recharged more than 300 times.

"Its refill pods are sold in packs of two at a price point that offers significantly better value for money for adult smokers and ex-smokers than buying a new device each time. This encourages continued use of the same device and makes the product substantially less wasteful than single-use devices.

“Sales figures indicate that replacement pods for many reusable products are outselling devices by almost two to one, indicating consumers are recharging rather than discarding the devices, substantially reducing waste.

“All retailers selling vapes are required to have a recycling facility for customers to return used or unwanted vapes. To support this, we have also suggested the government make it a condition of any licensing scheme that retailers should have a takeback service.”

The manufacturer, Shenzhen iMiracle Technology were also contacted for comment