How Equating Vaping with Smoking Could Harm Public Health and Leisure Businesses.
As the European Union pushes for stricter regulations lumping vaping and smoking together, the UK may soon find itself facing similar legal changes. While the focus in the UK has primarily been on smoking bans in outdoor public areas, recent EU recommendations to regulate vaping in the same manner as smoking could set a precedent. While aimed at public health, this move may have unintended consequences—especially for businesses such as pubs, restaurants, and clubs that rely on outdoor spaces. Additionally, treating vaping the same as smoking could reinforce negative misconceptions, perpetuating the idea that vaping is as harmful as smoking despite the clear scientific evidence to the contrary.
EU’s Stance: A Risk to UK Laws?
In a recent statement, the World Vapers’ Alliance voiced strong opposition to the European Commission’s decision to regulate vaping like smoking. Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, highlighted the potential harm of these policies, noting that they could mislead millions of smokers into thinking vaping is just as dangerous as smoking, despite studies showing vaping is 95% less harmful. By banning vaping in smoke-free zones, the EU risks undoing years of progress in reducing smoking rates.
These European policies could potentially affect the UK, where discussions about an outdoor smoking ban are underway. If the UK government follows suit, vaping could soon face similar restrictions.
The Impact on UK Hospitality
In the UK, discussions of a smoking outdoors ban have raised concerns among hospitality business owners. Pubs, restaurants, and clubs that rely heavily on outdoor spaces are particularly worried about the economic fallout. Business owners argue that pubs should have the autonomy to choose whether to allow smoking and vaping in their outdoor areas. If vaping is included in these outdoor bans, many pubs could lose a significant portion of their clientele, as smoking and vaping outdoors is often a key social activity for customers.
This potential vaping outdoors ban in the UK could have several consequences:
·Reduced foot traffic in pubs and restaurants with outdoor areas
·An increase in public nuisance if smokers and vapers congregate in restricted outdoor spaces
·A negative impact on businesses already struggling with post-pandemic recovery
Could Classing Vaping as Smoking Advance Negative Perceptions?
Equating vaping with smoking doesn’t just have legal and economic repercussions; it could also shape public perception. Despite clear scientific evidence that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, many still view vaping with suspicion. This is partly due to media portrayal, where vaping is often discussed in the same breath as smoking, fuelling the misconception that vaping is as dangerous as smoking. The EU’s decision to class the two together only strengthens this narrative, potentially discouraging smokers from switching to a less harmful alternative.
In the UK, these regulations could further fuel confusion. With phrases like “Could vaping be banned outdoors?” circulating in media reports, it’s easy to see how smokers—who may otherwise consider vaping as a means to quit—could be deterred. Harm reduction tools like vaping may become less appealing, ultimately keeping more people smoking, which runs counter to the government’s public health goals.
A Balanced Approach Needed for Vaping and Smoking Regulations
While the UK government deliberates on its approach to outdoor smoking bans, the EU’s influence looms large. The decision to treat vaping the same as smoking may have profound effects on both public health and the hospitality industry. By conflating the two, policymakers risk discouraging smokers from switching to vaping, a proven harm-reduction tool, while also jeopardising the recovery of pubs, restaurants, and clubs. It’s crucial that UK lawmakers carefully consider the broader consequences before implementing any outdoor vaping bans, ensuring that public health and business interests are considered.