Scottish MP proposes ban on attractive displays and flavours for vaping products

Green Party MP Gillian Mackay is proposing a ban on fruity and sweet flavoured vaping products in Scotland to prevent children from initiating them.[1]The MP also wants to remove the stalls selling these products from the points of sale.[2].

Several countries have already removed the display of tobacco products in stores, as is the case for example for medicines in pharmacies in France. Instead of being displayed, the products are stored in cupboards out of sight of customers. The visibility of the products is a factor in consumption. The arrangement of products on the shelves contributes to advertising at the point of sale and is widely used by tobacco manufacturers in a restrictive regulatory context concerning the ban on any advertising in favor of their products.

Gillian Mackay's bill to potentially ban attractive flavours and the display of vaping products comes as the Scottish Government is currently considering possible restrictions on advertising for these products.

Protecting children from nicotine initiation through these products

The environmental group's health spokeswoman said she was concerned about the use of vaping products by underage teenagers, who were deliberately targeted by vaping manufacturers through fruity and sweet flavours and attractive, colourful packaging. Gillian Mackay said she was looking closely at the range of measures that could be put in place to restrict flavoured products. She accused some manufacturers of disposable e-cigarettes, known as puffs, of using sweet flavours and attractive prices to target a new generation of users.

Although exact figures are difficult to obtain, the first results of the study Growing Up in Scotland Scottish Government surveys for 2019-20 suggest that 21.5% of 14-year-olds vape regularly. Another survey by ASH Scotland showed that regular vaping has increased among 11-17 year-olds, from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022, while 52% of young people who vape favour disposable e-cigarettes (puffs).

Mackay wrote to vape shops and manufacturers before taking his campaign to the Scottish Parliament, urging them to act responsibly and voluntarily ensure such blatant marketing campaigns cannot cause harm by restricting the placement of their products.

Advertising restriction already considered by Scottish government

In September 2022, the Scottish government unveiled the main conclusions of its consultation on vaping products and is considering strengthening the rules on advertising and promotion of vaping products, which have been deemed too attractive to date.[3]For the government, restricting the advertising and promotion of electronic cigarettes is an effective way to prevent young people and non-smoking adults from starting to use these products.

Keywords: Scotland, vaping, e-cigarette, puff, flavors, display ban, teenagers

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[1] Andrew Learmonth, MSP takes on vaping industry in bid to ban 'sweet toothed' flavors, The Herald, published December 27, 2022, accessed the same day

[2] Chris McCall, Scots shops face ban on displaying vapes to protect youngsters from 'ticking time bomb', Daily Record, published December 26, 2022, accessed December 27, 2022

[3] Generation without tobacco, Scotland to restrict e-cigarette advertising, published on September 30, 2022, consulted on December 27, 2022