Blackburn with Darwen Council is due to set out its position on vaping at a key meeting next week.
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At the Executive Board meeting on Thursday 9 July, councillors are expected to agree the Council’s stance on vaping.
The Blackburn with Darwen Vaping Position Statement sets out the Council’s evidence-based approach, aligned with the Tobacco Free Lancashire and South Cumbria Strategy 2023–2028 and national public health guidance.
The Council says vaping should not be used by children and young people, or by adults who have never smoked.
But it does support vaping as a short-term harm reduction tool for adult smokers. The Council says evidence shows it is significantly less harmful than smoking — although 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 position statement also says support to give up smoking and vaping should be targeted at people in groups with higher smoking rates, including people with mental health conditions, drug and alcohol issues, and those working in routine and manual occupations.
Enforcement is another focus, with the Council highlighting illegal or non-compliant products, underage sales and vapes containing illicit substances. It says multi-agency work with Trading Standards, police, schools and health services is central to that approach.
Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, Professor Abdul Razaq, said:
“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.”
Councillors will discuss the Executive Board report on Thursday 9 July.
