NNA Praises Government Plans
The New Nicotine Alliance has praised what it called “enlightened and proportionate” proposals from the UK Government
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by Dave Cross
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The New Nicotine Alliance says the proposals will “cement the UK’s place as the world leader in recognising tobacco harm reduction as a powerful public health tool.”
The measures announced include free starter kits for smokers, up to £400 for pregnant smokers, a Trading Standards enforcement squad, a consultation on cigarette pack inserts, and a call for evidence about teen use.
The New Nicotine Alliance commented: “These proposals – some of which are ground-breaking – are well thought-through and proportionate. The NNA warmly welcomes the government’s approach of embracing reduced risk products for smoking cessation, while also resisting simplistic prohibitive regulations to reduce youth vaping which could do more harm than good.
“We are particularly pleased to see that the government is considering cigarette pack inserts which is a policy we have long championed. It would require an amendment to current tobacco packaging regulations but is a common-sense idea which is long overdue. There is no better targeted way to reach people who smoke than by giving them information with the products they buy.
“A plan to issue free vaping starter kits will be reassuring to smokers who may have been made wary of vaping previously by alarmist media stories. It is a very welcome endorsement of vaping by the government which will also serve to encourage public health professionals to be more confident in recommending vaping as a first-line option for quitting combustible tobacco use.
“Announcing a new ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ funded by £3 million from the government, Mr O’Brien made it clear that this is in keeping with a wider plan to reduce smoking going forward. This is an important distinction because an over-reaction to concerns about youth vaping will inevitably reduce the appeal of the products for adults who currently smoke.”
The charity describes the extra funding for Trading Standards as “a sensible and proportionate response.”
Continuing: “This addresses a problem that has prevented activities such as test purchasing to weed out irresponsible sellers. As well as punishing, it will also be used to produce guidance for retailers who do wish to act responsibly to ensure they are aware of regulations and help them to recognise illicit products and remain compliant.”
The New Nicotine Alliance is delighted that the Government has ignored the calls to implement plain packaging, to completely ban disposables, or level a higher rate of taxation on vape products – measure that would “perpetuate smoking in adults which is orders of magnitude more of a threat to public health.”
References:
- The New Nicotine Alliance – https://nnalliance.org/
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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