Campaigners question Government’s consultation on vaping’s future
Campaigners criticize the UK government's vaping consultation for proceeding before research on its impact is complete.Summary
The UK government is consulting on plans to restrict vaping and nicotine pouches, including plain packaging and hiding products from view, to protect under-18s. The consultation closes on 2 October. Campaign group We Vape has raised concerns that the government has admitted it hasn't finished research into whether the new rules will work. Two impact assessments published with the consultation reveal that research on device appearance and shop displays is still being commissioned, with no caveats for delay. We Vape founder Mark Oates criticized the approach as "consulting first and evidencing later" and warned that if research arrives late, the consultation is "theatre." The proposals would limit vape devices to white, black, or grey, force heated tobacco devices into drab brown, and treat shop displays like cigarettes. The impact assessments also show incomplete cost-benefit analysis, with one refusing to publish a Net Present Social Value and the other estimating over £330 million in lost profit without quantifying benefits. The government has used 2015 cigarette packet data due to limited vaping data and admits it cannot estimate the number of smokers who might quit or return to smoking due to display restrictions. We Vape urges retailers and consumers to respond to the consultation.
(Source：conveniencestore.co.uk)
