Britain's disposable vape ban hits stocks, divides experts
29/01/2024 15:09
LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Britain's plan to ban
disposable vapes hit some e-cigarette stocks and drew a mixed
reaction from experts on Monday, with some concerned it could
hurt efforts to stem the death and disease caused by cigarettes.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said single-use vapes had driven
an increase in youth vaping in the country, with the government
citing figures showing the number of children using vapes had
tripled over the past three years.
Other countries, like France, have already flagged plans to
ban disposables but unlike elsewhere, Britain's government has
put vaping at the core of its efforts to reduce smoking
including previously announcing a scheme to hand out free vape
kits to smokers looking to quit.
Shares in vaping company Chill Brands CHLL.L had collapsed
29% by 1505 GMT on Monday. Supreme PLC SUP.L , which also sells
disposable vapes, initially fell almost 10% before recovering to
stand 7% higher.
Supreme did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. Chill Brands said it would accelerate plans to bring a
non-disposable vape to market, and that single-use vapes played
an important role in helping people to quit smoking.
Researchers have found disposable vapes are widely used. One
study published this month found that some 1.2 million current
UK smokers use disposable vapes, as well as 744,000 former
smokers.
"A ban could have substantial unintended consequences for
these groups," said Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow at
University College London's Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group
and lead author of the study.
It could discourage smokers from switching completely to
vaping, which is less harmful, or trigger a relapse among those
who have quit with the help of disposables, she continued.
Caitlin Notley, professor of addiction sciences at Norwich
Medical School in the University of East Anglia, said the focus
should remain on reducing smoking, as it is uniquely deadly.
But the government's move was backed by Mike McKean, Vice
President for Policy at The Royal College of Paediatrics and
Child Health, who said bold action was needed to curb youth
vaping.
"The research and data around widespread e-cigarette use is
still very much in its infancy," he said, adding the long-term
health impacts, especially for young people, are not known.
(Reporting by Emma Rumney, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)
((Emma.Rumney@thomsonreuters.com; +447391409253;))