A NEW campaign warning parents and schoolkids about the dangers of vaping is set to be launched by the Scottish Government.
The ‘Take Hold’ marketing initiative will aim to increase awareness of the harms and risks of nicotine addiction associated with e-cigarettes.
Schools across Scotland are set to be provided with digital guidance packs and resources for posters and there will be radio and outdoor advertising.
The key message the Government wants to get across is that vapes can quickly become harmfully addictive for children and young people, affecting their concentration, mental health and mood.
It comes as a new Tobacco and Vaping Framework is published by ministers, setting out how the Government plans to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.
The framework for reaching the 2034 goal includes actions to raise the age limit for sales of tobacco and plans to improve services to help people quit.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Smoking damages lives for people across Scotland, and is responsible for one in five deaths – more than 8000 lives a year.
“It is a significant burden on our NHS and social care services and is the leading preventable cause of health inequalities.
“Although we have seen smoking rates decline, and Scotland has already introduced a range of world-leading tobacco control measures, we want to do more to help us achieve our goal of being tobacco-free by 2034.
“E-cigarettes are one of a range of tools for adult smokers to quit smoking, but should never be used by young people or adult non-smokers. We must take action to prevent young people using vapes and becoming addicted which will damage their health, and that’s why we’re launching a marketing campaign.
“It is much easier to never start than it is to give up.”
Ministers are continuing to discuss a consultation on tightening rules around the advertising and promotion of vapes.
Any measures taken forward will be in addition to those proposed under the UK-wide consultation on creating a smoke-free generation, which the Scottish Government is part of, and includes raising the age limit.
