(Time limit 20 minutes)
Disposable Vapes
This Council notes that the UK governments are planning steps to reduce vaping among under-18s.
These are likely to include tighter rules on how vaping products are marketed and promoted as well as higher taxes on disposable e-cigarettes. This is in recognition that while the use of cigarettes has reduced with young people, vaping use has doubled in over a year and young people are starting with e-cigarettes rather than using them to stop smoking. In May, the Prime Minister has also announced that the loophole allowing shops to give free vape samples to under 18’s is set to be closed.
Council recognises that over the past few years the Oldham Youth Council have made health a priority issue and have undertaken much work in this area to improve the health experiences of Oldham’s young people. This includes:
· Working with Council officers and Mental Health services including CAMHS, TOG Mind and Kooth.com to raise awareness of the issues facing children and young people especially after the pandemic.
· 2018 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to the minister of Health requesting that advertising around vaping be banned, e-cigarettes be in plain packaging and point of sale restrictions, like that for tobacco products, be applied.
· 2022 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to Government to extend the offer of the Holiday Activities and Food programme to all young people not just those on free school meals.
Council notes:
· That according to a YouGov survey for Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) there has been a rise in 11 to 17-year-olds experimenting with vaping - from 7.7% in 2022 up to 11.6% in 2023.
· A 2023 trading standards survey of 14 to 17-year-olds in Oldham, 15% had vaped and 12% used them regularly, twice as high as the previous survey in 2020.
· The same 2023 survey showed that, of those that had regularly vaping, 52% of respondents had used vapes but not cigarettes and Almost 1 in 3 young people in Oldham claim to have first tried vaping aged 12 or less.
· When asked 66% of young people said they used disposable (non-rechargeable and non-refillable) e-cigarettes.
· Scottish Government is considering a complete ban on disposable vapes.
· That hospitalisation of young people, due to vaping, has quadrupled in 2 years.
· That young people are using disposable vapes incorrectly, dropping oil into the top of the device causing ‘overdose’ or nicotine that cause hospitalisation.
· The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have called for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. They warn that e-cigarettes are not risk free as may damage young people's lungs and can be as addictive as cigarettes.
· That use of unregulated vapes and oils are being used by Oldham’s young people. As unregulated these products can have higher than advised levels of nicotine and/or illicit substances such as THC.
Council recognises:
The Children’s Act 1989, section 17, states that it shall be the general duty of every local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need
· Oldham Council takes its role seriously and that health and improving the health and wellbeing of Oldham citizens is a high priority for Oldham.
· The use of e-cigarettes and oils, especially unregulated, pose a significant risk to young people’s health and wellbeing.
We propose that Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of Health asking that, in the review of regulations related to vaping, that the sale of all disposable e-cigarettes be banned.
Minutes:
The Youth Council PROPOSED the following MOTION:
Disposable Vapes
This Council notes that the UK governments are planning steps to reduce vaping among under-18s.
These are likely to include tighter rules on how vaping products are marketed and promoted as well as higher taxes on disposable e-cigarettes. This is in recognition that while the use of cigarettes has reduced with young people, vaping use has doubled in over a year and young people are starting with e-cigarettes rather than using them to stop smoking. In May, the Prime Minister has also announced that the loophole allowing shops to give free vape samples to under 18’s is set to be closed.
Council recognises that over the past few years the Oldham Youth Council have made health a priority issue and have undertaken much work in this area to improve the health experiences of Oldham’s young people. This includes:
· Working with Council officers and Mental Health services including CAMHS, TOG Mind and Kooth.com to raise awareness of the issues facing children and young people especially after the pandemic.
· 2018 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to the minister of Health requesting that advertising around vaping be banned, e-cigarettes be in plain packaging and point of sale restrictions, like that for tobacco products, be applied.
· 2022 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to Government to extend the offer of the Holiday Activities and Food programme to all young people not just those on free school meals.
Council notes:
· That according to a YouGov survey for Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) there has been a rise in 11 to 17-year-olds experimenting with vaping - from 7.7% in 2022 up to 11.6% in 2023.
· A 2023 trading standards survey of 14 to 17-year-olds in Oldham, 15% had vaped and 12% used them regularly, twice as high as the previous survey in 2020.
· The same 2023 survey showed that, of those that had regularly vaping, 52% of respondents had used vapes but not cigarettes and Almost 1 in 3 young people in Oldham claim to have first tried vaping aged 12 or less.
· When asked 66% of young people said they used disposable (non-rechargeable and non-refillable) e-cigarettes.
· Scottish Government is considering a complete ban on disposable vapes.
· That hospitalisation of young people, due to vaping, has quadrupled in 2 years.
· That young people are using disposable vapes incorrectly, dropping oil into the top of the device causing ‘overdose’ or nicotine that cause hospitalisation.
· The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have called for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. They warn that e-cigarettes are not risk free as may damage young people's lungs and can be as addictive as cigarettes.
· That use of unregulated vapes and oils are being used by Oldham’s young people. As unregulated these products can have higher than advised levels of nicotine and/or illicit substances such as THC.
Council recognises:
The Children’s Act 1989, section 17, states that it shall be the general duty of every local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need
· Oldham Council takes its role seriously and that health and improving the health and wellbeing of Oldham citizens is a high priority for Oldham.
· The use of e-cigarettes and oils, especially unregulated, pose a significant risk to young people’s health and wellbeing.
We propose that Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of Health asking that, in the review of regulations related to vaping, that the sale of all disposable e-cigarettes be banned.
Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Motion
Councillor Charters spoke in support of the Motion
Councillor Arnott spoke in support of the Motion
Councillor Hamblett spoke in support of the Motion
Councillor Moores spoke in favour of the Motion and in doing so proposed an additional resolution requesting that ‘the Adults Social Care and Health Scrutiny Board convene a Workshop to consider issues relating to vaping.’
Councillor Mushtaq MOVED and Councillor Charters SECONDED the MOTION as presented by the Youth Council and including Councillor Moores’ addendum to the resolution (above).
RESOLVED:
1. The Chief Executive, be requested, to write to the Secretary of Health asking that, in the review of regulations related to vaping, that the sale of all disposable e-cigarettes be banned.
2. The Adults Social Care and Health Scrutiny Board convene a Workshop to consider issues relating to vaping.