Why vaping advocates should support the right to smoke

Here's my short introductory speech at Boisdale this week. Readers of this blog have heard it all before so apologies for being predictable ...

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for joining us for the 2023 Forest Lunch & Awards.

In a few minutes I’m going to introduce our special guest speaker, but first, a quick reminder of where we were when I stood here 12 months ago.

It was shortly after the publication of the Khan Review, the allegedly independent review by Dr Javed Khan into making smoking history by 2030.

The Khan Review was commissioned by former health secretary Sajid Javid who, ironically, resigned from government a few hours after last year’s Forest Summer Lunch, but I’m assured it was complete coincidence.

Sajid’s resignation was followed, a few minutes later, by that of Rishi Sunak, and a number of us were still here, on the terrace, soaking up the news, so it was quite a dramatic day.

Anyway, the Khan Review made 14 recommendations, including raising the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year until no-one can legally buy cigarettes any more.

It also called for mass media campaigns to persuade smokers to quit, and suggested that the colour of cigarettes should be changed from white to dirty green.

In April this year the Government responded to Dr Khan’s recommendations in a way I can only describe as rather encouraging.

There appeared to be very little enthusiasm for most of Dr Khan’s recommendations, with one exception. The Governmentt, said Khan, must embrace the promotion of vaping as an effective tool to help people quit smoking tobacco - and the Government seemed to agree, announcing that ‘free’ vape kits are to be given to up to one million smokers to encourage them to switch.

Forest broadly welcomed this announcement because we have no problem with any policy that is based on education, including information about the relative risks of smoking and vaping, as opposed to coercion and further restrictive laws and regulations.

Most gratifying of all, both public health minister Liam O'Brien and the prime minister have emphasised and reiterated the Government’s belief in personal responsibility, which is music to our ears because, together with freedom of choice, they are the two things Forest has stood for and advocated for over 40 years.

There are still however some dark clouds on the horizon.

Forest is not and never has been party political. Frankly, when it comes to nanny state measures, there’s very little to choose between any of the parties.

Nevertheless, I think it’s generally accepted that Labour are likely to win the next General Election and, if you can’t remember what happened under the last Labour Government, let me remind you.

In 2002 Labour introduced a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

In 2007 Labour reneged on a manifesto commitment to exempt private members clubs and pubs that don’t serve food, and banned smoking in all enclosed public places. The ban embraced every pub and club in the country, including those that could easily have had well-ventilated smoking rooms.

They then introduced a law banning tobacco vending machines

And before they left office in 2010 they passed yet another law - that was later enforced by the new Coalition Government - that banned the display of tobacco in shops.

So when Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting says Labour will not only prioritise reducing smoking and vaping, but will consider the New Zealand policy of banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2008, I think we have reason to be concerned.

Everyone knows the health risks of smoking. If adults choose to smoke, they have every right to smoke without being bullied and harassed until they quit.

The same of course goes for vaping.

So I’ll finish with a message for advocates of vaping, many of whom are happy to keep quiet when politicians and anti-smoking zealots go after smokers.

Vaping is next. You might think vaping will escape the prohibitionist tendencies of campaigners like Action on Smoking and Health.

But let’s be clear. ASH’s current support for vaping is as thin as cigarette paper. In their eyes vaping is just another weapon to beat smoking. The idea that adults might vape long-term because they enjoy it is anathema to them.

In the medium to long term they want adults to quit ALL forms of recreational nicotine.

That’s what we’re up against and so, to the smug, self-righteous and sanctimonious vaping advocates who are happy to throw smokers under a bus, I say this:

Forest will ALWAYS defend and support the right to vape. But as consumers we’re all in the same boat, so get off your high horse and support the right to smoke as well as the right to vape because, if you don’t, the war on vaping will follow the same pattern as the war on tobacco.

PS. To view the Forest Summer Lunch photo gallery click here.