Press Release

IBVTA welcomes tobacco phase out but highlights role of vapes as smoking cessation tool

The UK vape industry has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement today that smoking will be phased out as part of an incremental generational approach but warns that over-regulating popular adult vape products could deny adult smokers a proven smoking cessation tool.

In response to the Prime Minister’s speech, the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) today highlights the role that vaping has to play in delivering a smokefree England by 2030. A recent IBVTA member commissioned survey of 6,000 UK adults found overwhelming evidence that vaping products, including single use devices, were critical to helping smokers quit.

• 46% of regular smokers and 37% of ex-smokers have tried or used a vaping device to help them quit smoking.
• Of those, 53% of regular smokers use a single use vaping device to help them quit. 61% of ex-smokers (who quit in past 2 years) used a single use vaping device.
• 72% of ex-smokers (who quit in past 5 years) and 56% of regular smokers believe single use devices are helpful in assisting individuals to reduce their smoking levels (23% of ex-smokers and 32% of smokers think they are not helpful).
• 49% used a single use vape due to ease of use, 40% cited affordability

The IBVTA has further warned that disproportionate regulation of vaping products would create a ‘Wild West’ of unregulated and untested products pushed by criminals, widely available to children.

Estimates from law enforcement suggest that already a third of the single use vape market is illicit. Over-stringent regulation, says the IBVTA, would be a ‘blunt instrument’ while benefitting criminals and jeopardising health gains.

Reacting to the Government’s latest proposals, the IBVTA also welcomes an announcement of a further £30 million funding for enforcement, including at borders, aimed at disrupting criminal networks aiming to distribute illicit products within the UK, something the IBVTA has called for previously. The IBVTA also welcomes proposals to ensure nicotine containing and non-nicotine containing vaping products are held to the same scrutiny, something that until now has not been the case and that the IBVTA has long argued for.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Marcus Saxton, Chair of the IBVTA said:

“We welcome the Government’s intention to phase out tobacco use. However, if this is going to work, then smokers need proven pathways off their addiction. All the evidence shows that single use products are a crucial first step to getting smokers off tobacco particularly in disadvantaged communities with high levels of smoking where, because of their ease of use, they are an effective smoking cessation tool. Undermining these products risks undermining the Government’s ambitions for a smoke-free England and to phase out tobacco use.

“As an industry, we recognise that youth vaping needs to be tackled and we stand-ready to work with Government and towards this and we welcome wider consultation on the industry.

“Rather than the knee-jerk introduction of new regulations, existing legislation should be properly enforced, and responsible manufacturers and retailers properly supported, rather than reaching for the blunt instrument of policy measures that could have damaging consequences.”

Ends.

You can read the press release online here.

The IBVTA is the trade organisation for all responsible and ethical independent vape businesses in the UK and exists to give the independent vaping sector a voice with government bodies, regulators and enforcement agencies. The IBVTA represents the UK’s leading vape manufacturers, importers, distributors, and vendors and has no links to the tobacco industry.

Original research was commissioned by an IBVTA member and undertaken by Opinium via a survey of 6,000 UK adults (Fieldwork conducted in August 2023).

Further research insights are available via our “Cut through the Smoke” campaign page.

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