Potentially dangerous vaping ban reignites smoking debate
With the Welsh Assembly looking into banning vaping, a
tobacco expert has spoken out to warn about the adverse
effect if such a ruling came into place. The Welsh Assembly’s
potential vaping ban would make vaping illegal in workplaces,
restaurants and bars by 2017. It replicates the smoking ban
which came into force eight years ago.
Professor John Britton, Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco
and Alcohol Studies said: “For the most part, not using
e-cigarettes in public is a matter of courtesy.
“There are circumstances where it might be important, or
helpful, to allow people to use them, and these places are
usually those where people find themselves unable to smoke
without any choice. For example, if admitted to hospital,
people in prisons and people in mental health settings, secure
or otherwise, who will go through acute withdrawal symptoms
from tobacco smoking whilst there are other options they
could use. E-cigarettes are important to very many people and
we need to think carefully before removing that option.”
Britton’s main area of research is smoking prevention and
other avoidable causes of chronic respiratory disease. He isn’t
the only one ringing warning bells about a potential vaping
ban. George Butterworth, Tobacco Policy Manager for Cancer
Research UK said: “There isn’t enough evidence to justify a
ban on using e-cigarettes indoors. The measure could create
more barriers for smokers trying to quit tobacco.”
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A response from the office of Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State
for Health, said: “The Government has no plans to introduce
a similar ban on e-cigarettes in England as banning the use
of e-cigarettes in public places would require a change in
legislation and there are no current plans to do this.
“E-cigarettes are relatively new products, but some evidence
suggests that they may be a useful tool in helping diverting
smokers away from traditional tobacco. However, the
Government is aware that there have also been concerns that
it might make it more difficult for smokers using e-cigarettes as
a way of stopping.
“The Department of Health is also aware that some companies,
like restaurant and pub chains and some transport companies
have also taken steps to ban their use within their private
buildings. The Department is keeping research on e-cigarettes
under review and Public Health England is currently compiling
a report looking at the latest evidence on e-cigarettes. The
Department will await the report’s findings.”
Vaping is already banned at a number of public places
already, including public transport operators Trent Barton and
East Midlands Trains. The regional train operator commented:
“Passengers should refrain from smoking either conventional
or electronic cigarettes on board all of our trains, platforms
and at our stations.”