A ‘surge’ in teenage e-cigarette use has promoted an Ayrshire MSP to raise her concerns in Holyrood.
Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament highlighting the issue of youth vaping.
Ms Brown first raised her concerns about the rise in teenagers and pre-teens using the devices back in July last year, when she was shocked to learn that kids as young as 11 were spotted vaping in primary schools.
The mum-of-three thinks youngsters are attracted to vapes due to the wide range of sweet flavours, bright colours and cheap price tags.
Ms Brown, who put forward her concerns at a cross-party debate yesterday, said: “I have noticed a surge in the use of e-cigarette use amongst teenagers in the street and outside of secondary schools.
“And I’ve been contacted by constituents concerning children as young as 11 vaping in primary school. I was shocked to hear this, as it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy e-cigarettes in Scotland.
“Vapes remain a relatively new product and there is still much to learn about the harm they do.
“However, it’s clear to me that children and young people are being targeted by e-cigarette companies who sell brightly coloured vapes in thousands of enticing flavours like cotton candy and cherry cola.
“Disposable vapes are also very cheap. Twenty cigarettes cost around £12 but vapes are around £4 and are the equivalent of around 45 cigarettes.”
Ms Brown stressed that vapes were designed to help people stop smoking and should not be used by under 18s or non-smokers.
She added: “We’ve gone to great lengths to have cigarette packaging and the laws surrounding them changed.
“We must do the same with e-cigarettes or we face a real threat where generations of children will be addicted to nicotine.
“I thank everyone who took part in my member’s debate. I have had people from across all parties express their concerns.
“This debate further highlighted how widespread this problem is and what we as MSPs can do to tackle the issue.”
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of health charity ASH Scotland, thanked Ms Brown for highlighting her concerns and added: “Children and youths using these health harming products is a major worry and needs to be tackled by the Scottish Government as a matter of urgency.
“Most vapes include nicotine, which is highly addictive, and toxic e-liquids that have not been safety tested for inhalation and could risk damage to their growing lungs over time.”
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