Review on packaging, appearance and display of products
THE Scottish Government has opened up a new consultation to seek views on proposals aimed at restricting tobacco, vaping and wider nicotine products across stores.
The new consultation offers the chance for people across Scotland to provide their views on restrictions on the appearance of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products in stores, how they are packaged and how they are displayed in stores in a bid to “make them less appealing to children and young people”.
Maree Todd MSP, public health minister for the Scottish Government, 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.”
The consultation will open from 10 July and will run for a total of 12 weeks to collect as many viewpoints as possible from across Scotland.
This follows the introduction of the Tobacco & Vapes Act earlier this year, which has included new powers to regulate the displays, contents, flavours and packaging of nicotine products across the category.
Todd said: “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.”
