Under consideration PE2033: Introduce a full ban on disposable vapes
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to legislate for a full or partial ban on disposable vapes in Scotland and recognise the dangers that these devices pose to both the environment and the health of young people.
Previous action taken
I have written to all of my MSPs, with Douglas Lumsden and Maggie Chapman responding in support of the concerns I raised around disposable vapes.
I have also written to my ward councillors; they didn’t want to take action at a local level and instead urged me to write to my MSP.
Background information
Research suggests 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK. That is 62.4 million vapes every year going to UK landfill, or being washed up in our oceans, rivers and canals. These vapes and their lithium batteries are extremely dangerous to our wildlife and environment. They are a fire hazard and can explode.
There is not enough health research being done to know how dangerous these devices really are. However according to Edge Vaping, they can cause bleeding from the throat or nose, inflammation of the airways, shortness of breath and possibly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Manufacturers suggest the nicotine content of vapes is similar to 20 cigarettes; with some young people getting through 3-4 vapes a week, that could be like smoking 60 cigarettes a week.
I believe that vapes have no place in supermarkets or any retailer. They are intended only to be a mechanism to stop smoking, not an alternative to cigarettes. We need a ban, and we need it quickly!
248 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
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