Rotherham Council has announced that it will collaborate with schools to alert students about the risks of taking up vaping as a choice rather than as a measure to aid smoking cessation. The council’s children and young people’s service will also work with schools to warn students of the dangers of vaping and smoking and support youngsters to quit.

According to figures from Action for Smoking and Health, in 2022, 15 per cent of 11-17-year-olds had tried vaping, compared to 11 per cent in 2021 and 13 per cent in 2020. Although the sale of e-cigarettes containing nicotine to under 18s is prohibited, experts warn that vaping is becoming an “epidemic” among teenagers across the UK.

The Council’s Investigation

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is set to investigate what can be done to crack down on the “positive and open way vaping is advertised and displayed, with at the very least calling upon vapour outlets to consider how they portray their wares that might encourage youngsters to start vaping”. RMBC hopes to ensure that e-cigarettes can be accessed as an effective quitting aid for existing smokers, without inadvertently contributing to a growth in the uptake of vaping among non-smokers through normalization or glamorization of vaping.

A notice of motion will be tabled at the next week’s full council meeting, which calls upon Rotherham MPs to improve funding for public health from the government to crack down on smoking in general. Figures show that Rotherham has a higher smoking prevalence rate than the national average. Approximately 16.9 per cent of Rotherham adults – around 35,400 people – were smokers in 2021 compared to 13 per cent nationally. The motion adds that spend on tobacco control per head of population fell by 49 per cent between 2013 and 2018 within the context of overall cuts in public health spending.

RMBC’s Collaborative Efforts with Schools

RMBC’s collaborative efforts with schools are part of a wider drive to educate young people about the risks associated with vaping and smoking. The council’s children and young people’s service will work with schools to educate students about the health risks associated with vaping and smoking, including lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The council will also work with schools to provide support to students who wish to quit vaping or smoking.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rotherham Council’s efforts to investigate vaping adverts and displays aimed at youngsters and its collaboration with schools to warn students about the dangers of vaping and smoking are crucial in reducing the rates of smoking and vaping among young people. Through its investigation, RMBC aims to ensure that e-cigarettes are used as an effective quitting aid for existing smokers, without inadvertently contributing to the growth in the uptake of vaping among non-smokers through normalization or glamorization of vaping.

FAQs

  1. What is Rotherham Council’s investigation about?

Rotherham Council’s investigation is about cracking down on the “positive and open way vaping is advertised and displayed” to ensure that e-cigarettes can be accessed as an effective quitting aid for existing smokers, without inadvertently contributing to a growth in the uptake of vaping among non-smokers through normalization or glamorization of vaping.

  1. What is the smoking prevalence rate in Rotherham?

Approximately 16.9 per cent of Rotherham adults – around 35,400 people – were smokers in 2021 compared to 13 per cent nationally.

  1. Why is RMBC collaborating with schools?

RMBC is collaborating with schools to educate young people about the risks associated with vaping and smoking and to support those who wish to quit. This collaborative effort is part of a wider drive to reduce the rates of smoking and vaping among young people.

  1. What is the notice of motion that will be tabled at the full council meeting?

The notice of motion calls upon Rotherham MPs to improve funding for public health from the government to crack down on smoking in general.

  1. What are the health risks associated with vaping and smoking?

The health risks associated with vaping and smoking include lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.