People in Wales will be banned from using e-cigarettes in public places under a new public health law introduced today.
Ministers in Wales have put forward proposals to introduce a ban because they don't not want to take the risk of seeing smoking "normalised" again after the success of the smoking ban.
Under the new measures shops will have to join a register for retailers of tobacco and e-cigarettes - aimed at stopping illegal sales to under-18s. It will also be an offence to "hand over" tobacco and e-cigarettes to children. This includes selling to children online. The biggest measure proposed is to ban e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces and workplaces - this includes lorries and taxis.
In favour of the proposal is Public Health Wales, local health boards and the BMA. But groups like ASH Wales and Cancer Research UK are opposed to the new measures and the British Heart Foundation and the British Lung Foundation want more evidence.
Interestingly, a public consultation last year resulted in 79% opposing a ban in public places. There were concerns that a ban might make it more difficult for people to stop smoking. But growing evidence, including evidence we have provided to Public Health Wales shows a growing number of young people trying and buying e-cigarettes - some as young as 11 years old.
Kelly Evans, Director at Social Change UK said: "The jury is still out on e-cigarettes and whether they are a gateway for young people to start smoking cigarettes, however, what we do know is that young people are trying and buying e-cigarettes. We have conducted studies across England and Wales that proves this so let's not pretend that young people are not using them. The question is now what should be done - if anything - to restrict their appeal and use in under 18's".
Wales will not be the first country to introduce curbs or bans on e-cigarettes in public spaces. Belgium, Spain and Malta have already introduced restrictions. France and Ireland are considering similar proposals.
Kelly said: "I have recently seen very worrying statements from organisations like Cancer Research UK that the numbers of young people taking up e-cigarettes are too low to support a ban. They have even said that the 'type' of young people to try e-cigarettes usually try alcohol and tobacco anyway. If you look at the data the 'type' of young people who smoke and drink are our most vulnerable young people living in more deprived areas and we should be doing everything we can to protect them, not marginalising them".
She continued: "We know that e-cigarettes are potentially an opportunity for people to move away from tobacco smoking, although the jury is still out on this too. But I don't believe that banning e-cigarettes in pubs will prevent people from quitting cigarettes - or even from continuing to use e-cigarettes. This proposal is essentially about protecting children and young people".
Social Change UK have been working with Public Health Wales for 18 months on tobacco control and preventing young people from taking up smoking. Social Change UK have also gathered evidence on usage and appeal of tobacco and e-cigarettes in young people in other areas including Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire and conducted a study with 72 schools across England. All studies found that young people are trying and buying e-cigarettes.