Welsh e-cigarettes ban in public places scrapped...but not for pubs

Welsh health minister Mark Drakeford said that government has changed the controversial proposals to cover areas where there is a ‘potential risk to children’ including schools, public transport and eating places.

Critics have argued that banning e-cigarettes in licensed venues would be ‘unhelpful.’

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers argued the decision on whether to allow vaping should lie in the hands of licensees.

“Pubs, bars and nightclubs have their own policies regarding the use of electronic cigarettes within their venues and we see no reason why any such policy should not be at the discretion of the licensee. Unless we are presented with evidence that the use of such devices in a pub, bar or restaurant, comes with significant risk, heavy-handed legislation such as this should be avoided.

“By the Welsh government’s own admission, there is no proof that e-cigarettes cause substantial harm and yet the Welsh Government is looking to enact legislation that has the potential to seriously disrupt trade for hospitality businesses.”

The original proposals to ban e-cigarettes in all public places including pubs, bars and restaurants came under heavy fire after a report found they were less harmful than tobacco and could be a ‘game changer’ for people looking to stop smoking.

Welsh Conservative MP Darren Millar accused the Labour ministers of attempting to ban e-cigarettes ‘because it doesn’t like them rather than basing the decision on evidence.’