Ash Scotland says ban advertisers targeting non-smokers but don't ban e-cigs from pubs
Anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) Scotland does not want a blanket ban on the use of electronic-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces.
Speaking after the Scottish Government launched a consultation into the devices Ash chief executive Sheila Duffy reiterated Ash's position that there is still no clear evidence of danger from second-hand emissions from e-cigs.
“A legislative ban on using e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces would require clear scientific consensus that significant harm from second-hand e-cigarette emissions is likely,” Duffy said.
“This is not the situation to date, so we don’t consider a blanket legislative ban is appropriate at this time. However, we welcome discussion of this issue and fully support the right of organisations and venues to decide their own policies.”
As well as their use in public spaces the consultation calls for views on an age restriction on the sale and purchase of e-cigarettes and additional action to control their advertising and promotion.
A legislative ban on using e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces would require clear scientific consensus that significant harm from second-hand e-cigarette emissions is likely
Ash will tell the consultation that e-cigarettes should only be promoted to existing smokers as an alternative to more harmful tobacco products and not at young people.
Duffy continued: “The nicotine in many e-cigarettes is a highly addictive substance, and the companies involved are under strong commercial pressure to recruit new generations into using it.
“E-cigarettes should not be promoted in any way that might reasonably be expected to promote smoking tobacco.”
As part of the Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco Control in Scotland consultation the government is also seeking views on making it illegal to smoke in vehicles with children on board.
Duffy added that Ash fully supports that proposal. “It is achievable, well-supported by the Scottish public and has the potential to protect thousands of our children from the dangers of breathing second-hand tobacco smoke,” she said. “This proposal aims to protect children from preventable harm.”
