ASH Scotland encourages responses to tobacco and vapes consultation
- Written by: Sheila Duffy — ASH Scotland — Chief Executive
- Published: 22nd September 2026
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, is appealing for support for proposals to restrict tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.
A UK Government consultation is underway as part of the Tobacco and Vape Act (2026) to seek views on proposals aimed at restricting the appearance, packing and retail displays of heated tobacco, vaping and other nicotine products such as nicotine pouches. ASH Scotland has compiled a guide to enable voices of young people, parents, teachers as well as health organisations and partners in Scotland to be heard ahead of the 2 October deadline.
I’m Sheila Duffy and, as Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, I have been deeply concerned at the upsurge and continuous use of vapes by children, particularly as young people who vape are three times as likely to start smoking cigarettes.
Our concerns are on the marketing and promotions of these addictive health harming recreational nicotine products. We have long been calling for government action to ban sweet and fruit flavoured vapes, prevent brightly coloured products and packaging, and hide e-cigarettes out of sight in shops to protect the long-term health of Scotland’s young people.
I am encouraging everyone in Scotland to join us in taking action by responding to the consultation to help ensure that children in our country can be protected by the strongest possible regulatory measures.
At ASH Scotland, we are supporting several key proposed measures but also urge government to go even further by adopting stronger restrictions:
- We agree with the proposals to make heated tobacco devices vapes and nicotine pouches a dull brown colour.
- We support extending plain packaging in drab brown colour to all tobacco and recreational nicotine products, herbal cigarettes and cigarette papers.
- We want all added flavourings to be banned in vapes and nicotine pouches.
- We support the proposal to keep all tobacco, vapes and other nicotine products covered and behind counters in shops.
Please respond to the ‘Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display’ survey today to help protect the health of this and future generations.
More information from ASH Scotland on how to respond can be found here.
End of page.
You may also like:
Irene Mackintosh, CEO at Mhor Collective shares highlights and hopes for rights in a digital age.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the proposal to collapse Scotland's 14 regional health boards into two.
Continue readingWhen we listen to lived experience, we create better resources, challenge assumptions and help create safer communities for everyone.
Continue readingGozie reflects on supporting citizen engagement, digital inclusion and hopes for the future.
Continue readingDCP member and Project Co-ordinator Esther Misajel shares Pachedu's journey towards digital inclusion.
Continue readingChris Mackie, Director of Digital, reflects on what ALISS has achieved so far this year and shares what is still to come.
Continue readingAt the ALLIANCE and beyond, true and meaningful policy reform means turning people's experiences into lasting action on the ground.
Continue readingGLP-1s can transform health but without adequate wraparound support, weight loss may come at the cost of nutrition, muscle and wellbeing.
Continue readingBilly McClean reflects on why SCIC26 offers a vital opportunity to learn together, share what works, and shape the future of integrated care
Continue readingTo mark the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary Paul Okroj reflects on the importance of supported self management.
Continue readingTo mark Scottish Learning Disability Week (7 - 13 September), Bruce Adamson reflects on this year's call to action.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the current state of social care in Scotland.
Continue readingKicking off September for the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary, Grace reflects on the Self Management Programme
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.
Continue readingSandra Auld reflects on the ALLIANCE's people focused impact, collaboration, lived experience, campaigns and lasting change in Scotland.
Continue readingMark shares his experience with gambling harms, and how this intersected with the launch of the ALLIANCE's ScotRGH programme in 2020.
Continue readingProfessor Anna Glasier celebrates 20 years of the ALLIANCE and it's vital role in shaping the Women's Health Plan for Scotland.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the challenges faced by community-led health organisations in delivering prevention.
Continue readingAnnie shares her experience of youth politics, and how SAFE has helped her make connections and makes sense of the world of politics.
Continue readingChloe Craig reflects on how we have helped connect Scotland’s lived experience voice to conversations happening beyond our borders.
Continue readingDr Irene Oldfather reflects on two decades of growth, collaboration, and person centred impact across Scotland and beyond.
Continue readingDisabled people are some of those who suffer most in crises but are ignored in planning. Our 6-step model builds justice throughout.
Continue readingMaisie Peebles shares her experience working with Aberdeenshire Public Health Team on a ‘digital conversations’ project.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on why the Scottish Government and parties must seize the opportunity for change.
Continue readingDirector of the Links programme, Roseann, discusses why we need to focus on person centred care, and why the programme is central to this.
Continue reading