Press release 20 November 2018
The New Nicotine Alliance welcomes today’s Parliamentary report recommending more liberal workplace vaping policies
- The NNA applauds the report’s recommendation for the Parliamentary estate to lead the way by becoming vape-friendly.
- Public vaping bans create a false perception that e-cigarette vapour is dangerous, MPs are right to act to correct this misperception.
- There is a clear misunderstanding amongst the public about vaping, today’s recommendations – if adopted – could act as an example to other workplaces.
- UK health bodies recommend smokers switch completely to e-cigarettes, more liberal workplace vaping policies would facilitate this and be beneficial to public health.
LONDON: Today sees the release of a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping which recommends a fundamental liberalisation of workplace vaping policies to encourage more smokers to switch. The NNA warmly welcomes this report and would urge its suggestions be implemented in full.
The report makes five policy recommendations:
1) Workplace vaping policies should balance the needs of vapers and smokers looking to switch with those of non-vapers.
2) Employers should have a workplace policy which permits vaping outdoors and makes provision for easily-accessible indoor vaping areas.
3) The Parliamentary Estate must lead the way and act as an example to other workplaces and public places by becoming vape friendly.
4) Public Health England should work to educate employers and owners of public places of the positive public health potential of vaping.
5) Vapers should vape in a responsible way
The recommendations are sensible and evidence-based and would go a long way to settling the confusion that large sections of the public have towards the nation’s most popular method of quitting smoking.
“There are currently 3.2 million vapers in the UK, 1.7 million of whom have quit smoking entirely using e-cigarettes”, said Sarah Jakes – Chair of the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) – on welcoming today’s report, “this has contributed to the rate of smoking prevalence plummeting, but many smokers are still hesitant due to misperceptions surrounding vaping. More liberal workplace policies can have the dual benefit of correcting these misperceptions while also providing a more encouraging environment for vapers to prevent relapse, as well as for smokers considering vaping instead.
“Public vaping bans give the impression that vaping is as harmful as smoking, which is entirely untrue”, said Jakes, “In fact, vaping is believed to be at least 95% safer than smoking and the government’s stop smoking campaigns recommend e-cigarettes as a means to quit. It is daft that on the one hand smokers are being encouraged to vape instead, only to then be told they are banned from vaping just about everywhere.
“The Parliamentary estate becoming vape-friendly would send a strong message to other employers and venue owners that vapers should be encouraged, not harassed, and would help to educate the public that vapers are simply former smokers doing something that is good for their health.”
The NNA welcomes this report by Mark Pawsey MP and his APPG. It is a timely and well-researched document which dispels many myths about e-cigarettes and adds to the growing public health consensus that vaping is a valid choice for smokers looking to quit.
Issued on behalf of the New Nicotine Alliance
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Note to editors
The New Nicotine Alliance is a charity concerned with improving public health, through a greater understanding of “new” (risk-reduced) nicotine products and their uses.
Sources
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping report “Vaping in Workplaces and Public Places” published 20 November 2018.
1.7 million e-cigarette users in the UK are ex smokers
ASH Fact Sheet: Use of e-cigarettes (vapourisers) among adults in Great Britain, September 2018, accessed via “New data shows smokers are getting the message on e-cigarettes”
http://ash.org.uk/media-and-news/press-releases-media-and-news/ash-news-release-new-data-shows-smokers-are-getting-the-message-on-e-cigarettes/
Vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking
Evidence review of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, Public Health England March 2018
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684963/Evidence_review_of_e-cigarettes_and_heated_tobacco_products_2018.pdf