ASH Demands More Action
Yesterday, we showed how ASH’s new data demonstrates that teen vaping fears are overblown – but Action on Smoking and Health is still calling for urgent government action
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by Dave Cross
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Action on Smoking and Health says its new data “reveals continued concerns regarding youth vaping.” The anti-smoking charity is calling for “I” on the back of its report. Somehow, despite admitting that “the data reveals the rate of youth vaping has stabilised”, Action on Smoking and Health believes “it remains a serious cause for concern”.
The findings come from an annual survey conducted by YouGov in Spring each year targeted at 11–18-year-olds.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.
Action on Smoking and Health begins its statement by saying “close to a million children having tried vaping.” This is a long way from the measured language the charity used to use, more redolent of the Bloomberg-funded statements issued from Bath University.
“The survey highlights key trends which emphasise the need for immediate government intervention,” it continues.
Once upon a time, the charity recognised the benefits to adults smokers was very important and argued against misinformation, yet here we are seeing findings couched in terms to support prohibition.
“ASH is deeply disappointed that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was not tabled prior to the summer recess and will not be tabled until September at the earliest. Until the Bill is passed the Government will not have the powers it needs to regulate the appeal, the advertising and promotion of vapes which make them particularly attractive to young people. This delay hampers the government's ability to regulate vaping products effectively, leaving youth vulnerable,” the charity continues.
Deputy Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman doesn’t celebrate the declines in ever-use or the declines in current use of vapes displayed on Action on Smoking and Health’s charts, instead she talks about, “The sustained level of youth vaping”.
She says that “evidence that dependency may be increasing sets alarm bells ringing.”
Where does this come from? The data show a decline in use.
She continues: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill must be brought back immediately after summer recess, and fast tracked through parliament, so urgently needed regulations to protect young people from vaping can be implemented. Vaping is an important tool to help adults quit and it should be regulated accordingly, to prevent e-cigarettes being packaged and promoted as though they were children’s toys.”
“Children’s toys” is an emotive statement, not a scientific one or the product of the survey’s findings. It has been used to elicit an emotional response in legislators. This is precisely what Action on Smoking and Health used to argue against.
The charity appears to be in full pivot from an anti-smoking to an anti-nicotine use organisation.
References:
- Use of vapes (e-cigarettes) among young people in Great Britain, July 2024 - https://ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-vapes-among-young-people-in-Great-Britain-2024.pdf?v=1722505432
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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