The APPG for Vaping report “Vaping in Workplaces and Public Places” published on the 20th November, made the following policy recommendations:
“1) Workplace vaping policies should balance the needs of vapers and smokers looking to switch with those of non-vapers.
2) Employers should have a workplace policy which permits vaping outdoors and makes provision for easily-accessible indoor vaping areas.
3) The Parliamentary Estate must lead the way and act as an example to other workplaces and public places by becoming vape friendly.
4) Public Health England should work to educate employers and owners of public places of the positive public health potential of vaping.
5) Vapers should vape in a responsible way.”
Striving to clear the current misinformation about vaping
The NNA issued a statement saying that it “warmly welcomes this report” and would like to see these recommendations implemented in full. The organization added that being practical and evidence-based, these policies would contribute to clearing the current confusion and misinformation that currently exists towards vaping.
“There are currently 3.2 million vapers in the UK, 1.7 million of whom have quit smoking entirely using e-cigarettes”, said NNA Chair Sarah Jakes, “this has contributed to the rate of smoking prevalence plummeting, but many smokers are still hesitant due to misperceptions surrounding vaping. More liberal workplace policies can have the dual benefit of correcting these misperceptions while also providing a more encouraging environment for vapers to prevent relapse, as well as for smokers considering vaping instead.”
“Public vaping bans give the impression that vaping is as harmful as smoking, which is entirely untrue”, added Jakes, “In fact, vaping is believed to be at least 95% safer than smoking and the government’s stop smoking campaigns recommend e-cigarettes as a means to quit. It is daft that on the one hand smokers are being encouraged to vape instead, only to then be told they are banned from vaping just about everywhere.
