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BAT supports smoke-free UK

Smoke free UK

You want Britain to be smoke-free by 2030.

Surprisingly, so do we.

Vaping is a gateway out of smoking, which makes it key to unlocking the UK government’s smoke-free targets.
 

It might surprise you that as the biggest vaping manufacturer based in the UK, we want more vaping regulation, not less. Read more about the five critical steps we believe the UK government needs to take to help realise our collective smoke-free ambitions from 2030.

A ban on confectionery, dessert and soft drink flavoured vapes

Imagery that looks like sweets or toys doesn’t belong on vaping products, nor does the cynical use of language designed to appeal to the underage. That’s why BAT supports an outright ban on vapes flavoured like sweets, desserts or soft drink brands.

 

This approach recognises the role of flavours as an important driver of adoption for smokers seeking alternatives, while ensuring the removal of specific vapour product flavours that appeal uniquely to anyone underage.

Trading Standards estimates that a third of all vaping products on the market in the UK are not compliant with regulations 2 . BAT supports a mandatory testing programme for products shipped to the UK to ensure they are compliant with UK regulations before they can be sold.

Harsher penalties for illegal sales or imports
Introducing retail licensing and restrictions

BAT supports restrictions on where and how vaping products are sold in the UK like the ones used to restrict the sale of alcohol. This would see those who sell vapes required to have a retail licence which would be revoked if they were found to be selling to anyone underage. Retailers would also have to demonstrate to Trading Standards that they observe either Challenge 25 protocols or fit new technologies at point-of-sale locations which verify age, such as facial recognition cameras.

Increased resources should be given to UK Border Force and Trading Standards to enforce vaping laws. BAT believes this should be funded by excise and increased fines.

Enabling tougher enforcement
Making vapes more environmentally responsible

Five million single use vapes are thrown away each week in the UK according to Material Focus (2023). Only 17% of vapers recycle in the correct recycling bins, according to the same data 1 . BAT wants it to be mandatory for single use vapes to have removable batteries to make recycling more straightforward.

 

These measures are vital if the UK is serious about following the lead of countries like Sweden that are on the brink of smoke-free status.


So that is why we are setting out our proposals clearly and publicly in UK newspapers, websites, and billboards.

 

Because by doing so, we hope to encourage and inform the debate to help get real results on reducing smoking rates.

 

Get the facts

Demonstrating the reduced-risk status compared to smoking of non-combustible products, including vapour, can only be achieved through science. It’s why we invest almost £300 million a year to find innovative new ways to contribute to Tobacco Harm Reduction.