Vaping laws: what they mean - and what is being done in West Berkshire

Last November, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was put before Parliament.

It is currently scheduled to come into force in June and the teams tasked with enforcing it have been setting out their stall in West Berkshire.

The public health legislation seeks to phase out the sale of tobacco for the next generation and take a strong regulatory approach to vaping and other nicotine containing products.

This presents a challenge for both retailers and enforcers – in the case of West Berkshire, the Public Protection Partnership (PPP).

For the purpose of enforcement, the trading standards service has been designated as the enforcing authority.

Here, the PPP houses trading standards teams across West Berkshire, Wokingham and Bracknell.

One concern is that there is likely to be a lot of non-compliant vape products as the various measures are introduced.

These may end up being sold by existing retailers or find their way into more illicit markets such as those used for the distribution of illegal and smuggled tobacco products.

The idea behind the legislation is to create a smoke-free generation.

It will also ban vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted and advertised to children to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.

The current age restriction on tobacco products will remain but a new rising age restriction will come into effect meaning that in effect no person under the age of 1 at the time it comes into force will ever legally be able to buy tobacco products.

Last week the PPP met, with trading standards reporting an uptick in the number of illegal vape seizures.

Quite a bit of research has been happening.

The young peoples attitudinal survey, conducted by PPP during April to June 2024, found that of the 4,014 West Berkshire secondary school pupils who answered the survey, 236 had never smoked a cigarette and 564 had never tried vaping. But 22.2 per cent (125) of pupils answered that they vape every day.

The stats are being used to create a a targeted marketing campaign in West Berkshire to be launched in the summer.

Data of both numbers of referrals to West Berkshire’s commissioned young people’s drug and alcohol service The Edge, for young people who vape in addition to using an illegal substance, and exclusively vape, have been requested.

Furthermore, numerical and anecdotal data has been requested from secondary schools across West Berkshire regarding the number of bag searches undertaken owing to a vaping concern, number of isolations/exclusions given to pupils owing to vapes and perceived impact vapes are having on pupils’ behaviours, attitudes, attendance and health.

West Berkshire Public Health commissions the local stop smoking service provision, Smokefree Life Berkshire.

Available to all smoking residents over the age of 12, the service provides a free, tiered approach of intervention for up to 12 weeks, including tobacco dependency advisor support in addition to various nicotine replacement therapies.

Regular vaping awareness sessions are undertaken in secondary schools, predominantly to Years 7 and 9, in addition to students at Newbury College.

This academic year, vaping awareness sessions have been offered and delivered to primary school Year 6 pupils in preparation for their transition to secondary school.

West Berkshire Public Health also commissioned Risking it All to deliver drama performances to secondary schools across West Berkshire focussing on health harm topics that are prevalent within the area. Vaping was one of the topics included in the performance.

West Berkshire Public Health are members of the Berkshire West Tobacco Control Alliance.

Hosted by Reading Public Health, the alliance brings together key partners to develop a shared plan of action to reduce smoking.

Sovereign Housing and GP surgeries across West Berkshire have also been approached to support conversations to encourage resident engagement in initiatives such as ‘smokefree’ homes.