Follow my lead on smoking ban to drive down vaping, former first minister says

Vaping should face the same restrictions that smoking did in Scotland two decades ago, according to the former first minister who introduced the law.

Lord McConnell urged the Scottish Government to build on the legacy of the smoking ban and restrict the use of vapes.

The Labour politician urged Maree Todd, the new public health minister, to consider a ban on vapes indoors while “strengthening protections for children” and punishing those who are “exploiting” young people.

In an article written for the Enlighten think tank, he calls for political parties at Holyrood to work together and reduce the number of Scots vaping.

Vaping has surged in recent years. Figures from the Office for National Statistics last year showed that the number of people in the UK vaping has overtaken the number of people smoking for the first time, with around one in 10 adults using e-cigarettes every day or occasionally.

And in March, schools were given fresh guidance on how to deal with vaping amid a reported surge in the number of children using the nicotine products.

Lord McConnell urged the Government to take further action as he pointed to the results of the smoking ban.

The smoking ban was introduced by the Labour-LibDem government under Lord McConnell in 2005 and took effect in 2006.

The law, the first of its kind in the UK, banned smoking in enclosed public spaces such as pubs, restaurants and offices.

Writing after John Swinney announced his new Cabinet, Lord McConnell urged the First Minister to follow his lead.

He said: “Companies that profit most from increased sales of vapes use exploitative marketing to create a new addiction for this generation, just as their predecessors did with smoking.

“Passing a controversial law such as the smoking ban, against well-funded tough opposition, required a great deal of working across party and sector lines.

“That same consensus-building is required again now, and there are positive signs. Nearly all party manifestos recognised some of the dangers associated with vaping: the worrying increase in use amongst young people, and the need for restrictions on displays and promotions.

“The new Scottish Government, and its public health minister Maree Todd, should lead discussions examining the potential of a ban on the use of vapes indoors and strengthening protections for children while punishing those who are exploiting young users.”

Lord McConnell said in recent years, parties at Holyrood had “often been too quick to be tribal” and “retreat into short-term partisan politics” rather than “working together for the good of the country”.

He added: “There will again be vested interests opposed to these health measures, just as there were 20 years ago.

“But if our politicians and society can work together, we can prevent the harm done by decades of inaction on smoking being repeated again.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.