The Government has been urged to “stand firm” against attempts to weaken plans to protect children from being marketed vapes and other nicotine or tobacco products.
In July, ministers announced a raft of measures to “crack down on vapes targeting kids” including plain packaging; plain devices; restrictions on flavour descriptions and keeping vapes out of sight in shops.
The consultation on the proposals closes on Friday.
Hundreds of experts have urged ministers to “reject the coordinated efforts of tobacco and vape manufacturers to weaken these proposals and preserve their ability to market products to children”.
A new letter, co-ordinated by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and shared with the Press Association, says that the “views of a vocal minority should not outweigh the overwhelming support for these measures among the public and health and education professionals”.
Signed by more than 1,700 professionals including leaders of health charities, think tanks and education experts, the letter says the Government’s proposals are “evidence-based, proportionate and essential for protecting children from tobacco and nicotine product marketing”.
Signatories include officials from Ash, Cancer Research UK, Asthma and Lung UK; the King’s Fund and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
It comes as new polling from Ash, conducted by YouGov on more than 2,100 British adults, shows that 63% of UK adults are supportive of standardising all tobacco products with just 7% opposed.
Other measures included in the proposals have also earned public backing with 79% in favour of banning names of sweets, cartoons, and bright colours on vapes packaging.
Meanwhile 71% support a ban on child-appealing vape flavour names.
Ash has highlighted how the new proposals will tighten rules surrounding cigars and cigarillos.
Currently, large cigars and individually wrapped cigars are not required to display picture and health text warnings and packaging varies greatly.
Meanwhile, cigarillos are allowed to be sold in packets of 10 and with menthol and other flavours. They can also be sold separately.
Officials have said there has been an increase in the use of cigarillos, cigars and smokeless tobacco among 16 to 19-year-olds in England in recent years.
And menthol cigarillo sales have increased since the ban on flavoured cigarettes was introduced in the UK.
Ash’s new YouGov polling found that 60% of the public support extending plain packaging requirements to cigars, with the majority of Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and Conservative votes all being in favour.
“Industries that profit from tobacco and nicotine are campaigning hard against these regulations, but hundreds of health and education professionals are urging ministers to stand firm,” said Ash chief executive Hazel Cheeseman.
“The public backs action too, with support for plain packaging for cigars across the political spectrum and just 9% of people opposed.
“We know that when tobacco regulations leave loopholes, companies exploit them. Ministers have an opportunity to close the loopholes that have led to a growth in cigar sales in recent years.
“We also need action on vape promotion. Vapes can help adults quit smoking, but they don’t need brightly coloured packaging or prominent displays. We can protect children from marketing while keeping vapes accessible to adults who smoke.”
Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “Paediatricians remain deeply concerned by the continued marketing and promotion of tobacco, vapes and other nicotine products in ways that appeal to children and young people.
“In particular, the visibility, packaging and promotion of vapes risks normalising nicotine use for a new generation.
“Children must be able to grow up free from marketing designed to encourage tobacco and nicotine use.
“Strong regulation is essential to protect children from these harms. We urge Government to stand firm against attempts to weaken these proposals and welcome measures that close loopholes and reduce the visibility and appeal of all tobacco and nicotine products.”
Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy and information, Dr Ian Walker, said: “There’s no safe way to use tobacco, so the law must cover all tobacco products to protect people from its harms.
“Governments across the UK must now ensure the law is fully implemented and properly enforced alongside increasing support available for people trying to quit smoking.”
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund, added: “Children should be protected from marketing that encourages them to use tobacco or nicotine products.
“When commercial interests and children’s health come into conflict, the Government must put children first.”
NASUWT general secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Teachers continue to report that vaping and the use of other nicotine products by pupils in and around schools is having a detrimental impact on young people’s behaviour and concentration in class.
“The Government must reject the attempts of manufacturers to block these necessary measures and put the health and wellbeing of children and young people first.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This Government is committed to protecting children from the harms of tobacco, the risk of nicotine addiction and reducing the appeal of addictive vapes.
“Evidence suggests colourful packaging, prominent retail displays and child-appealing flavours are among the factors driving young people to take up vaping.
“We unveiled plans to tackle this as part of a UK-wide consultation and we will carefully consider all the responses.”
