Fury as Labour’s clampdown on vaping could see more people take up SMOKING

LABOUR’s vaping clampdown could backfire into much radical smoking, the government’s ain interaction appraisal warns.

An “unintended consequence” of banning disposable e-cigs and definite flavours “is that it could promote much radical to effort smoking”.

The memo highlights an American survey that recovered an further 15 cigarettes could beryllium sold for each 0.7mL vape pod not sold.

New laws introduced to Parliament volition prohibit throwaway vapes from June 1, on with caller powers for ministers to restrict fruity flavours that entreaty to kids.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill volition besides halt anyone calved aft January 2009 from ever being capable to legally bargain cigarettes, and ban smoking successful a scope of outdoor areas.

But the Health Department’s interaction appraisal warned: “A imaginable unintended effect of the vaping policies is that it could promote much radical to effort smoking.

“For example, a survey from the US recovered that restricting flavours of vapes led to an further 15 cigarettes sold for each 0.7mL vape pod not sold.”

It is hoped that the outdoor smoking prohibition would assistance “mitigate” this unintended consequence.

It besides points to a Bristol University survey connected banning vape flavours that drove much radical to smoking.

The insubstantial says: “The survey recovered that arsenic a effect of the flavour prohibition much adults whitethorn spell backmost to smoking baccy cigarettes. This is successful enactment with caller grounds connected the flavour bans that person been imposed successful the US.”

Freedom campaigners past nighttime called for a rethink to the nanny-state clampdown.

Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs said: “The government’s ain interaction appraisal indicates that this draconian vape ace down volition propulsion much radical backmost to smoking - and not successful tiny numbers.

“Labour whitethorn beryllium pursuing a smoke-free future, but by denying smokers an alternative, it is hard to travel their logic.

“Rather than rushing done this legislation, authorities indispensable re-consider these sound connected consequences.”

Ed Argar MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: "It's wide that successful Labour's efforts to unreserved done the Smoking and Vapes Bill determination are superior questions arising from their interaction assessment, connected which the British People and Parliament request and merit greater clarity from the Government astir the item of that impact.”