Right here’s how the federal government can additional deal with underage nicotine habit

As members of the UK vaping neighborhood and advocates for accountable vaping, Our Vape Advocacy acknowledges this week’s studying of the Tobacco & Vapes Invoice in Parliament. The Authorities’s transfer to ban disposable vapes is an important step in addressing the surge of underage vaping and the environmental impression of those merchandise. We totally help this ban, because it aligns with our dedication to safeguard public well being and uphold trade requirements.

Nonetheless, additional legislative motion should deal with our trade’s persistent points. Constructing on the optimistic steps already taken, it’s crucial to determine and rectify extra regulatory gaps and inconsistencies that undermine our efforts to fight underage vaping and curb illicit market actions. On this context, Wes Streeting, Shadow Well being Secretary, has strongly criticised the Authorities’s inaction, stating that Labour will “come down like a ton of bricks” on the vaping trade if the current administration doesn’t “pull its finger out” and introduce laws. He accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of main a authorities that has been “asleep on the wheel” as a era of kids develop into hooked on nicotine.

In mild of Wes Streeting’s name for strong regulatory motion and the expressed must get up to the problems of underage nicotine habit, it’s evident that particular measures should be put in place to strengthen our regulatory framework. Our Vape Advocacy proposes the next vital actions to deal with these points instantly:

1. Closing Loopholes on Illicit Merchandise: Present legal guidelines inadvertently help a black market by permitting the importation of illicit merchandise that aren’t match for retail. We suggest a legislative adjustment to empower Border Pressure with the authority to grab such merchandise on the level of entry, eliminating this vital loophole.
2. Uniform Age Verification System: We advocate for a standardised digital age verification system throughout all retail factors. Biometric know-how will swiftly and reliably be certain that vape merchandise are bought solely to these of authorized age, thereby serving to to curb underage vaping.
3. Enhanced Enforcement Measures: We suggest establishing a centralised platform for reporting violations inside the trade, resembling illicit gross sales, underage gross sales, and VAT fraud. This method will standardise the submission of complaints to authorities like HMRC or Buying and selling Requirements, guaranteeing environment friendly and efficient enforcement of current and new laws.

Reflecting on ongoing discussions, we want to unequivocally state our opposition to any authorities proposal for a flavour ban. Such a ban can be a profound mistake, with dire penalties for public well being and the vaping trade. Eliminating flavoured vapes dangers reversing the progress made by numerous people who’ve efficiently switched from smoking conventional cigarettes to vaping, probably driving them again to extra dangerous smoking habits. Our Vape Advocacy is dedicated to vigorously contesting any such measures, as we stand agency in our mission to guard the developments and advantages our trade provides to public well being.

Our Vape Advocacy stays devoted to advocating for insurance policies that improve public well being whereas supporting the integrity of the vaping trade. We’re dedicated to a collaborative method, working with authorities our bodies, trade stakeholders, and the neighborhood to navigate these challenges. Our collective efforts are important to develop laws that not solely stop youth entry to vaping merchandise but additionally help grownup people who smoke of their journey to give up smoking. We stand prepared to offer experience and insights whereas striving for a balanced method that advantages all.

Darren Lynch is a director at Our Vape Advocacy

The submit Here’s how the government can further tackle underage nicotine addiction appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.