THE Scottish Government is seeking views on the packaging of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products, as well as on how they are displayed in shops.
The consultation comes as the government looks to make such products less enticing to children and young people. It will run from July 10 for 12 weeks.
Scottish Government public health minister, Maree Todd, said, “Scotland has been a world-leader on a range of tobacco control measures, and while there has been a steady reduction in smoking rates, we know it still damages lives and kills more than 7,000 people a year in Scotland.
“The use of vapes has increased in recent years, particularly among children and young people – with almost one in five children saying they have tried vaping.
“We know that colourful packaging and displays are used as an enticement to children and young people, which is why we are taking action and consulting on options to address this issue.
“We urge everyone to have their say on how these products are marketed and sold in the future to help protect children and young people and reduce preventable harm in Scotland.”
Public Health Scotland consultant in public health, Dr Garth Reid, added, “Public Health Scotland welcomes the Four Nations consultation on the packaging, appearance and display of tobacco and vaping products.
“We strongly support the ambition to reduce the appeal, accessibility and normalisation of products that cause significant harm to population health. The proposals represent a timely and evidence‑informed extension of existing tobacco control measures, and they align with Scotland’s goal of achieving a tobacco‑free generation.”
