Could Scotland Ban Disposables?
Could Scotland move to ban disposable vapes? It is a move that is being considered due to pressure from Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Scottish Greens
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by Dave Cross
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The Scottish Greens has says it welcomes the review into the public health and environmental impact of disposable single-use vapes, “which are littering our high streets and harming the planet.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Humza Yousaf announced the review following a General Question by the Scottish Green health spokesperson, Gillian Mackay MSP, who is campaigning on the issue.
The review will be carried out by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Scottish Greens Minister for Circular Economy, Lorna Slater MSP.
Gillian Mackay MSP said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has committed to undertaking this review. Disposable vapes are littering our local high streets and damaging our environment. The amount of waste they produce is staggering.
"We are in a climate emergency yet this multi-million pound industry is using damaging single-use products.
"When combined with the fruity flavours that are used to entice those who would be less likely to smoke cigarettes, it is creating a perfect storm for public health issues and environmental damage.
“If we are really serious about moving to a low-waste economy then this has the potential to set us back on that journey. There are other solutions and other far less damaging ways to produce these products, such as rechargeable vapes.”
“This review is a very welcome step. We need to consider all options to reduce the harmful impact that these products are having.”
The misguided MSP repeated World Health Organisation “evidence” which says vape products “are harmful to health and are not safe.”
Humza Yousaf has stated that the Scottish Government is consulting “experts” to investigate the next steps it should take and whether a total ban on the sale and use of disposables is a viable option.
Scottish newspaper The Daily Record has been campaigning for a “crackdown” on disposables because “We told how a staggering 1.3million single-use vapes are thrown away every week in the UK - a staggering rate of two per second - polluting public spaces, threatening wildlife and wasting precious lithium batteries.”
Congratulating the paper on its campaign to ensure smokers remain smoking, Yousaf responded: “We will ask stakeholders with the relevant expertise to examine the evidence and assess what action the Scottish government and other partners should take. That will include consideration of a potential ban."
Puritanical and shrouded in ignorance, a ban is not the win these politicians and journalists think it is. Quite how they think they can stop Scottish smokers buying from English companies and having their vape orders posted to Scotland was not explained.
Photo Credit:
PHOTO BY NEENU VIMALKUMAR ON UNSPLASH
PHOTO BY ALESSANDRO BELLONE ON UNSPLASH
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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