Council shares its position on vaping as a quit smoking aid

Blackburn with Darwen Council is to set out its stance on vaping at a key meeting next week.

At the Executive Board meeting on Thursday 9 July, Blackburn with Darwen councillors are expected to agree the Council’s position on vaping.

The Blackburn with Darwen Vaping Position Statement sets out the Council’s evidence-based approach to vaping, aligned with the Tobacco Free Lancashire and South Cumbria Strategy 2023–2028 and national public health guidance.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s overarching position is that vaping should not be used by children and young people or adults who have never smoked.

However, vaping is supported as a short-term harm reduction tool for adult smokers. Evidence shows it is significantly less harmful than smoking – although is not risk-free – and can be more effective than other nicotine replacement therapies for quitting smoking.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Housing and Health, said:

As a local authority, our view is that vapes should only ever be used as a tool to quit smoking, as a short-term harm reduction support offer for adult smokers. We believe that those who have never smoked should not begin vaping. We believe that children and young people should not vape, that this is harmful and must be prevented. Our approach focuses on providing support and education.

We are already working to reduce the numbers of young people getting into vaping, through education programmes and support. Public Health, Police, our local smoking cessation service and the young people’s substance misuse service are working in partnership with schools to provide training around vaping, and the presence of illicit substances in vapes and other nicotine products. A range of practical help and support is available for young people, including one‑to‑one interventions to help them stop vaping, targeted group work where issues are identified within schools, and awareness‑raising sessions delivered through assemblies and wider school events.

We’re also keen to deter adults vaping around children and young people, as this can normalise vaping from a young age. We work closely with partners of the Blackburn with Darwen Smoke Free Alliance on a range of actions to reduce vaping. This includes research around children and young people vaping, working with local schools to develop vape-free policies, promoting smoke free homes and targeted work with high-risk groups.

The vaping position statement also recognises that support to give up smoking and vaping should be targeted to people in groups with higher smoking rates: people with mental health conditions, drug and alcohol issues, and those working in routine and manual occupations.

Enforcement is another key focus for the Council, particularly tackling illegal or non-compliant products, underage sales and vapes containing illicit substances. Multi-agency collaboration, including Trading Standards, police, schools and health services, is central to this approach.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health Professor Abdul Razaq added:

We will ensure that our position on vaping remains evidence-led, and also that it evolves to consider developments in national guidance, the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 legislation, together with local insights, offers of support and implementation of key measures to ensure a smoke free generation.

You can read more about the Council’s proposed position on vaping in the Executive Board report that councillors will discuss on Thursday 9 July.