Vape stores “make Britain’s towns healthier”
T
he Royal Society for Public Health
(RSPH), a leading independent UK
charity, says many vape shops
provide a social setting similar to the
traditional pub – and that they are
helping to make Britain’s towns and
cities healthier. different types of business based on the extent to
which they promote healthy choices, support
comm unity cohesion, encourage access to health
services and support individual wellbeing.
In its report “Health on the High Street” the society
argues that the growing presence of vape shops is
having a positive effect. Leisure centres score highest on the scale at seven
out of a possible eight, while high-cost credit
outlets score lowest – minus four.
The report introduces what it calls a “Richter scale
of health”, a method devised by the RSPH to pro-
vide local authorities with a way to measure the
healthiness of their high streets. It allots scores to Vape stores score three out of eight – just behind
libraries and equal with museums – on the
principle that they promote healthier living,
mental wellbeing and social interaction.
It urges vape stores to ensure their customers are
aware of local stop-smoking services run by the
National Health Service (NHS). And it recommends
local councils give preferential rent terms to
health-promoting businesses.
Advertising: mentioning health now permitted
T
he body in charge of regulating
advertising in the UK will now
allow ads for e-cigarettes to promote
the products’ health benefits.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)’s Com-
mittee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcast
Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) have
amended their rules following consultation,
removing the prohibition on health claims in ads
for e-cigarettes.
The ruling, which came into effect immediately,
will be reviewed in November 2019.
However, the prohibition against making
medicinal claims remains. This means, for
instance, that ads can now say vaping is healthier
than smoking, but cannot promote e-cigs as a way
to stop smoking tobacco.
The ASA said things had changed since the ban on
health claims was introduced: “Since this prohibi-
tion came into force in 2014, the evidence for the
relative safety of e-cigarettes has improved.”
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