Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, supported a bid by a number of councils and health authorities to extend the smoking ban to cover outdoor areas of establishments. Haringey council in North London came up with the barmy plan to ban smokers and vapers from beer gardens, arguing that removing the convenience would encourage people to give up nicotine. Copying the more authoritarian countries, the proposition was to include bans in all public spaces, akin to the failed efforts of Welsh Labour.
Former Labour health minister Lord Darzi said: “If we are to celebrate the cultural and community assets that parks and community spaces represent and to protect children and young people from the normalising effect of observed smoking behaviours, then extending the smoking ban to other public spaces will have a positive effect. Expanding smoking prohibition to broader public spaces will undoubtedly have a positive effect on our population’s health.”
Contrary to line being taken by Khan, a Labour spokesman told The Telegraph: "This is not Labour Party policy. It's not something we are considering, nor is it something we will be considering."
Vape Jam and the TPD drew the media in from across the world, and CGTN Africa believed the subject of stricter EU regulation of e-cigarettes and liquids was on everybody's lips. The channel interviewed Dave Dorn of the New Nicotine Alliance, as well as Chris Dodge from Vape House and Billy Web from Prohibition Vapes.
In Rotherham, burglars broke into a vape shop and escaped on a quad bike with the safe. The criminal targeted Vape HQ on Harris Hawk Way, Manvers. A police spokesperson said: “Police are appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 29 of March 30 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Finally, the Mirror covered a very unsavoury story where a 54-year old court official traded eliquid with under-age boys for sexual favours. Philip Mansfield worked as a guard at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, where he met boys. In addition to eliquids and a vape kit worth £90, he also gave the boys vodka, cider and takeaway pizza. Mansfield was found guilty and received a custodial sentence.
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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Parliament Fears Two
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