Fife: Council support for a ban on disposable vapes

May 28, 2023

Arguments and political differences were laid to one side at Fife Council as members came together to back a nationwide disposable vape ban.

SNP members Bailey-Lee Robb and Stefan Hoggan-Radu secured full council support to address Scottish Government Ministers in support of the move.

"I am genuinely, deeply concerned for our young people in Fife," Cllr Robb said. "Very little is known about the health impact of vaping. We must all concern ourselves with the fact that children and young people are turning to disposable vapes at an alarming rate. I fear this may be our next epidemic."

A packet of 20 cigarettes is approximately £12 compared to a disposable vape which costs around £3.20.

A single disposable vape with approximately 600 ‘puffs’ is roughly equivalent to 45 cigarettes, according to Cllr Robb.

"It is being marketed as a hobby and something fun. Despite it being illegal to sell devices under 18s it is happening at an alarming rate," he said.

"There has been a seven-fold increase in the use of disposable vapes among young people from 7 per cent to 52 per cent. It has found that children as young as those in P3 have been caught bringing them into schools right here in Fife."

Cllr Hoggan-Radu urged members to support the ban because "we cannot wait until we know all the facts."

"We waited too long when it came to cigarettes. Let's not make the same mistakes with vapes," he said.

"This motion calls on all of us to do what's right to protect not just the environment and future generations but this generation from succumbing to plumes of bubblegum flavoured clouds."

Concern did not stop at health and safety. Environmental issues also played a heavy role in the council decision.

Disposable vapes contain a range of precious materials, including lithium and copper which can be recycled. However, the vapes are designed so that the recyclable materials cannot be separated.

Cllr Robb reported that the Fife Street Champions group collected more than 600 disposable devices recently during a clean-up campaign.

Cllrs Robb and Hoggan-Radu filed their motion in anticipation of an urgent review of disposable vapes from the Scottish Government. The review is currently being undertaken by Zero Waste Scotland.

The letters that Fife Council will address to Scottish Government Ministers will convey the "council's view that a ban on the sale of so-called ‘disposable’ vapes be introduced in Scotland as soon as practicably possible".

We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.

Please report any comments that break our rules.