On today’s episode of BBC Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ programme, concerns were raised by some parents worried about youth access to vaping. The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) takes safety and standards incredibly seriously, as enshrined in our Code of Conduct.
The UKVIA has been at the forefront of promoting best practise in the industry, through national campaigns such as #FactsNotFiction and #Vaping Matters. Realising the potential of vaping is key for the betterment of public health in the UK.
UKVIA director and spokesperson, Dan Marchant, was featured on ‘You and Yours’. and was keen to set the record straight. Dan said:
“In the UK recent stats show that rates of vaping amongst young people remain at less than 2% and is almost exclusively confined to those youths who regularly smoke.
The UK Vaping Industry Association’s code of conduct insists that members employ robust online age verification methods, a Challenge 25 policy in-store, and that products are only to be marketed towards adult smokers, vapers and consumers of other nicotine products.
We whole-heartedly agree that vaping is not for under-18s or non-smokers. Vaping products are for adult smokers, or those who have switched from tobacco, for the purposes of harm reduction.
Smoking causes more than 200 premature deaths in England every single day and it is crucial that smokers are made aware of the alternatives available. Treating smokers as vapers is not in the interest of improving public health.
Public Health England continue to advise that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking and is the most effective way for UK’s remaining 7 million smokers to quit.”