Liverpool’s public health leaders have hailed the UK Government’s new measures in the fight against smoking and vaping. The measures include a planned ban on disposable vapes, new powers to limit vape flavours and change the way vapes are displayed, as well as plain packaging for vapes and a law making it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Cabinet member for public health, Cllr Harry Doyle, said these proposals were “really good news” and would help curb “aggressive” marketing by tobacco companies, who use sweet flavours to appeal to younger people. Officials are particularly concerned about the number of people taking up vaping who have never smoked before and the environmental damage caused by the approximately five million e-cigarettes disposed of each week in the UK.
Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, Professor Matt Ashton welcomed the proposals, highlighting recent data from the city’s “State of Health in the City report” which indicates tobacco is one of the three leading drivers of ill-health in Liverpool, and policies to improve public health over the coming decades are therefore crucial. However, Ashton also stressed the importance of strong legislation to stop retailers selling illegal vapes and cigarettes to minors and sufficient resources to enforce that legislation.
In Liverpool, the Alcohol and Tobacco Unit and Merseyside Police have worked together to seize nearly £410,000 ($518,000) worth of illegal stock since April this year. Public health officials have urged smokers and vapers who need help quitting to contact Smoke Free Liverpool for support
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