Agenda item

The Interim Director of Public Health provided the Committee with a presentation on E-cigarettes, specifically, what they are, how they are used and the risks and/or benefits of their use.

E-cigarettes are battery operated devices that deliver nicotine by heating a solution of nicotine, flavouring, additives and propylene glycol, without most of the toxins found in cigarettes.  They are often known as vapes and come in a variety of designs, changing rapidly from their launch in 2007.

From a 2014 national survey, 38% of respondents reported that they used e-cigs to help them stop smoking tobacco entirely and others responded to suggest they used them to help reduce the amount of tobacco smoked. 

The risks to health are very low for current users, however, there is no evidence as yet on the impact of long-term use.  Since 2007, there had been 700,000 UK deaths from nicotine use and none from e-cigarettes.  It was suggested that they provided a low risk alternative for up to 10 million current smokers in the UK, however, some products were of low quality.

There was concern that e-cigs could be a gateway to introducing young people to smoking and tobacco control and smoke free policies were being undermined by vaping.

The future direction of the use of e-cigarettes was positive, however, there was a desire for further regulation, especially in relation to the marketing of products to ensure they did not appeal to non-smokers or young people.

In a 2015 review, Public Heath England concluded that there was a need to increase awareness of some key facts.  Nearly half of the population did not realise that e-cigarettes were much less harmful than smoking, with the figure being around 95% less harmful.  In addition there was no evidence to suggest that e-cigs were a route into smoking for children or non-smokers.  Therefore, Public Health England could not combine discussions on smoking and vaping.

Finally, the Interim Director of Public Health reported that although there was already strong evidence, closer monitoring of emerging evidence was needed.  In addition, the forthcoming Tobacco Control Strategy would need to be reviewed and ensure that Worcestershire's Tobacco Control Plan takes account of it.

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were raised:

·         The risk of accidental poisoning of children was no greater than other substances, such as pain medication

·         Two thirds of all smokers now vape as well as smoke or instead of

·         In relation to further regulation, there was a move to introduce package labelling and listing ingredients in order of quantity, much like other products

·         The Committee was supportive of the need for further regulation and appropriate marketing  

·         One Member suggested that public perception was that e-cigarettes were as harmful as smoking, however, it was clarified that there was no evidence to suggest that was the case

·         Many Members agreed that many e-cigs provided unpleasant aromas and it was perceived among many to be socially unacceptable

·         In response to a question around whether vapour had any effect on Asthma suffers, it was explained that much research had been undertaken on this subject and the ingredients were not at levels to cause a trigger in asthma sufferers

·         The Interim Director emphasised the need to be mindful of national strategy when working locally.

The Chairman thanked the Interim Director for a useful presentation and asked for a review at an appropriate time in the future.