Disposable vape ban ‘a pro-smoking’ policy
29 January 2024
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Economics
In the Media
Len Shackleton quoted in The Express
29 January 2024
Economic Theory
11 November 2024
Commenting on the government’s plan to ban disposable vapes and restrict e-cigarette flavours, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the free market think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“The government is trying to ram through illiberal and counterproductive policies before anyone thinks about them too carefully. The generational ban on tobacco sales will be a farce and will spawn all the problems associated with prohibition. Most of the government’s anti-vaping policies are effectively pro-smoking policies as they will drive vapers back to cigarettes.
“There is clear evidence that e-cigarette flavour bans are associated with an increase in cigarette sales (1). Only last week, a study funded by Cancer Research UK expressed strong reservations about a blanket ban on disposable vapes which are used by 2.6 million Britons (2).
“There is room for sensible regulation of branding that is clearly aimed at minors and a ban on selling nicotine pouches to children is long overdue, but the government is throwing the baby out with the bath water with plain packaging, flavour bans and the prohibition of disposable vapes. The real answer is to enforce the law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors which is being flouted up and down the country.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Contact: media@iea.org.uk / 07763 365520
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“The government is trying to ram through illiberal and counterproductive policies before anyone thinks about them too carefully. The generational ban on tobacco sales will be a farce and will spawn all the problems associated with prohibition. Most of the government’s anti-vaping policies are effectively pro-smoking policies as they will drive vapers back to cigarettes.
“There is clear evidence that e-cigarette flavour bans are associated with an increase in cigarette sales (1). Only last week, a study funded by Cancer Research UK expressed strong reservations about a blanket ban on disposable vapes which are used by 2.6 million Britons (2).
“There is room for sensible regulation of branding that is clearly aimed at minors and a ban on selling nicotine pouches to children is long overdue, but the government is throwing the baby out with the bath water with plain packaging, flavour bans and the prohibition of disposable vapes. The real answer is to enforce the law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors which is being flouted up and down the country.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Contact: media@iea.org.uk / 07763 365520
- 1.
- E-cigarette Flavor Restrictions’ Effects on Tobacco Product Sales
- The actual and anticipated effects of restrictions on flavoured electronic nicotine delivery systems: a scoping review
- The Impact of Banning Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Combustible Cigarette Sales: Evidence From US State-Level Policies
- 2. Who would be affected by a ban on disposable vapes? A population study in Great Britain
- Last year, Christopher co-authored A Vapid Solution, a paper arguing that a ban on disposable vapes would push more people towards smoking cigarettes.
- Christopher also authored Prohibition 2.0, a paper arguing that the proposed generational tobacco ban would be ineffective and empower criminal gangs.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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