Vaping products - tightening rules on advertising and promotion: consultation 2022

Proposed additional restrictions on advertising and promotion

47. The Scottish Government proposes that vaping products should be positioned purely as a smoking cessation aid to help those currently smoking tobacco products switch to a less harmful alternative and gradually quit completely.

Question 1

Do you agree that we should be seeking to limit use of these products as a cessation aid and restrict exposure to non-smokers?

Please tick one

Yes / No / Don’t Know

If you have any comments on the overall approach please record those here.

48. The Scottish Government has adopted a precautionary approach to the use of vaping products due to the limited evidence on the long-term health impact of vaping. However, we accept that as evidence develops vape products may prove to be safer than anticipated. For that reason all evidence around the use of and impact from these products is kept under constant review.

49. Should the current health fears around prolonged use of vaping products not materialise, we propose to review, and potentially lift, restrictions around their advertising and promotion.

50. While available evidence shows these products are less harmful than smoking in the short term, the harmful toxins and chemicals contained within give reasonable cause for concern over the impact of long term usage. We therefore propose that they should not be advertised on billboards and advertising hoardings, on buses and vehicles, on leaflets and flyers and on moving video advertising apparatus.

Question 2

Do you agree with proposal to extend restrictions on advertising these products in the ways described above?

Please tick one

Yes / No / Don’t Know

If you have any comments on the overall approach please record those here.

51. We believe that in-store promotional displays should be banned so they are not used as an alternative means to advertise these products.

Question 3

Do you agree with proposal that in-store promotional displays should be banned?

Please tick one

Yes / No / Don’t Know

If you have any comments on the overall approach please record those here.