Richard Begg, head of learning & development at VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, said: “Protecting young people from nicotine products should remain a priority for government and industry alike, and we support strong enforcement against retailers who break the law.
“However, vaping and smoking are not the same and should not be regulated as though they are.
“Cigarettes kill up to two thirds of long-term users, whereas vaping products exist primarily as a reduced-risk alternative for adult smokers.
“Calls for indoor vaping bans risk sending the wrong public health message by implying vaping carries the same level of harm as smoking.
“That could have unintended consequences for Scotland’s efforts to reduce smoking rates, particularly among adults who have successfully switched away from combustible tobacco.
“The focus should instead be on balanced, evidence-based regulation that protects children, supports responsible retailing and preserves access to vaping products for the hundreds of thousands of adults across Scotland who rely on them as an alternative to smoking.”
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