British lawmakers have been warned that proposed new restrictions on safer nicotine alternatives risk undermining one of the country’s most effective routes away from smoking.
Smoke Free Sweden’s submission to the Government’s consultation on the packaging, appearance and retail display of vaping and nicotine products argues that protecting young people and helping adults quit smoking should not be treated as competing objectives.
The submission, authored by smoking-cessation and harm-reduction experts Dr Karl Fagerström, Dr Marewa Glover and Alice Alberta Cittone, calls for regulation that reflects the very different risks of combustible cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products.
The experts point to Sweden, which is on the brink of achieving official smoke-free status after ensuring adults have widespread access to alternatives including snus, vapes and nicotine pouches.
“Sweden has shown that smoking can be driven to historically low levels when traditional tobacco control is combined with acceptable, accessible and affordable alternatives,” the submission states.
“The UK should protect young people vigorously. But it should do so without undermining the products and policies that can help adult smokers leave combustible tobacco behind.”
Cigarette-style restrictions on vaping and nicotine products could reduce their visibility, appeal and usefulness to adults looking for alternatives to smoking, the experts warn.
Their submission cites the latest Cochrane review, which found high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help more people quit smoking than nicotine replacement therapy, non-nicotine e-cigarettes or behavioural support alone.
Cigarettes should remain the most heavily restricted nicotine product because combustion drives the overwhelming burden of smoking-related disease, the submission concludes.
It calls on ministers to maintain a clear distinction between combustible and smoke-free products and to assess new restrictions for unintended consequences, including reduced switching, relapse to smoking and illicit trade.
Submissions can be made here until 11:59pm on Friday 2 October.
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