The British Labour Party told media representatives it may implement a prescription-only policy for vaping products if they win the upcoming general election, which must take place by January 2025.
The Labour Party has been consistently leading in polls for the past two years.
Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary for the Labour Party and potential choice for health secretary if the party gains a majority in Parliament, is closely monitoring Australia’s recent decision to regulate vaping as a prescription product.
Streeting believes that this policy is partly based on evidence from Australia showing that vaping can lead to smoking.
He also criticizes the vaping industry for promoting itself as a helpful tool for quitting smoking while simultaneously addicting young people to nicotine.
In regards to the industry’s marketing tactics, Streeting says, “We will take strong measures against targeting children, but I also want the vaping industry to return to its initial purpose as a legitimate method for quitting smoking.”