LABOUR’s vaping clampdown could backfire into more people smoking, the government’s own impact assessment warns.
An “unintended consequence” of banning disposable e-cigs and certain flavours “is that it could encourage more people to try smoking”.
The memo highlights an American study that found an additional 15 cigarettes could be sold for every 0.7mL vape pod not sold.
New laws introduced to Parliament will prohibit throwaway vapes from June 1, along with new powers for ministers to restrict fruity flavours that appeal to kids.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will also stop anyone born after January 2009 from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes, and ban smoking in a range of outdoor areas.
But the Health Department’s impact assessment warned: “A possible unintended consequence of the vaping policies is that it could encourage more people to try smoking.
“For example, a study from the US found that restricting flavours of vapes led to an additional 15 cigarettes sold for every 0.7mL vape pod not sold.”
It is hoped that the outdoor smoking ban would help “mitigate” this unintended consequence.
It also points to a Bristol University study on banning vape flavours that drove more people to smoking.
The paper says: “The study found that as a result of the flavour ban more adults may go back to smoking tobacco cigarettes. This is in line with recent evidence on the flavour bans that have been imposed in the US.”
Freedom campaigners last night called for a rethink to the nanny-state clampdown.
Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs said: “The government’s own impact assessment indicates that this draconian vape crack down will push more people back to smoking – and not in small numbers.
“Labour may be pursuing a smoke-free future, but by denying smokers an alternative, it is hard to follow their logic.
“Rather than rushing through this legislation, government must re-consider these knock on consequences.”
Ed Argar MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: “It’s clear that in Labour’s efforts to rush through the Smoking and Vapes Bill there are serious questions arising from their impact assessment, on which the British People and Parliament need and deserve greater clarity from the Government about the detail of that impact.”
