British American Tobacco PLC (LSE:BATS), the UK's largest listed tobacco and vaping company, has called for more regulation on vapes, including a ban on sweet flavours that may appeal to children.
“As the largest manufacturer of vaping products in the UK, we are clear on our responsibilities,” the FTSE 100-listed firm’s UK head, Asli Ertonguc, said in a press release.
“[We] are urging the government to introduce more stringent vaping regulations.”
The call comes as the government seeks to introduce ambitious legislation that would bar current 14-year-olds from ever buying cigarettes in the future.
This is part of the government’s efforts to create a “smoke-free generation”, with the legal age of purchasing cigarettes set to rise steadily ahead of the group.
Arguing vaping would be “key” in reaching this smoke-free target, BAT called for sweet flavoured vapes to be banned, alongside single-use products that do not have a replaceable battery.
“We believe that underage users should never vape,” Ertonguc added.
“So we want confectionery, dessert and soft drink flavours to be banned and the introduction of a new regime for how and where vapes are sold.”
This would include licensing rules for retailers, similar to those that sell alcohol, as well as testing for vape products before they are stocked in UK shops.