Derry councillors back motion seeking to ban single use vape products

Derry and Strabane Council will write to the Secretary of State to request the ban of single use vape products.

The motion to take the action was brought by councillor Caitlin Deeny at the full council meeting on 25 October.

The Sinn Féin councillor said disposable vapes negatively impact society in multiple ways.

“The first point I would like to highlight within the motion is the environmental implications surrounding the increasing use of single-use vaping products,” she said.

“Disposable vaping products are made with several materials – plastic bodies, copper and lithium batteries inside. These are very valuable resources that should be recycled appropriately to conserve our world's natural resources and prevent further extractions.

“However, they are not being recycled with an enormous number of them being dumped into landfill every single day.”

She said they end up in landfill, causing fire hazards and pollution risks to air, water and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

“The second point I'd like to make is the health implications and how single use vaping products are readily available to our young people.

“They are marketed with bright, vibrant colours to attract attention and have flavours that are designed to attract the attention of young people. All while cigarettes sitting beside them - also containing the addictive substance nicotine - are placed behind a sliding door.

“Vapes are priced very affordably and are highly accessible to our young people,” she added.

Cllr Deeney acknowledged that vapes are used as an alternative to smoking by adults. However, she said that 'teenagers are now led to believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking' but that 'this has not yet been proven' given the long term effects have not been studied.

She said that as a school teacher she is very concerned for the effects of vaping on pupils and this concern is shared among many teachers across Ireland.

Cllr Martin Reilly proposed an amendment to the motion.

“We think there is a concern around the success of a call to have an outright ban on single use vapes as there are opportunities to circumvent that by providing rechargeable rather than single use which will still have the same impact on the environment and the user,” the SDLP councillor said.

“We also feel that those who use vapes to cut out the more harmful cigarettes will be penalised if there was to be an outright ban and we also know that selling to a child or buying on behalf of a child is already illegal.”

Cllr Deeney did not support the amendment due to the feedback they've been receiving from relevant parties.

“We've been listening to concerned parents, teachers, and health professionals. We can't be led by manufacturers who are basically profiting off the exploitation of children so we won't be supporting [the amendment].”

Eight councillors voted for the amendment and 26 voted against.

Alderman Chelsea Cooke voiced her support for the motion.

“As we all know vaping is very common and unfortunately it's very popular with the younger generation and in my opinion I don't think there's enough awareness of the dangers associated with vaping,” the DUP alderman said.

“E-cigarettes contain many dangerous chemicals, for example acrolein, which is a herbicide which is used to kill weeds.

“I had a conversation with Chest Heart and Stroke. They currently have a vaping campaign raising their concerns about the impact vaping can have on your body for example, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.”

The motion passed as originally proposed with 27 votes recorded in favour and six abstensions.

Meanwhile, Stephen Ryan, Managing Director of VaporLinQ, called the motion ‘extreme’.

“It is clear that many of these products are irresponsibly manufactured, marketed, and too readily available to young people,” he said.

“However, given the significant role played by vaping as a quit smoking tool, as endorsed by the NHS, it is our view that this motion is an extreme measure.

“We have been actively calling on the government to do more to meaningfully change regulation for several years, as it fully aligns with our mission to provide a safer and healthier vaping experience for our customers while stopping the supply of illegal vaping products in the council area.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards within the vaping industry, all while extending our assistance to as many people as possible on their path to quitting smoking.”