February 18, 2015

expert reaction to news that the use of e-cigarettes will be banned from Scottish hospital grounds

The use of electronic cigarettes is to be banned in almost all hospital grounds in Scotland, with NHS boards implementing the measures alongside their requirement to become “smoke-free” by April 2015.

Prof. Peter Hajek, Director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit, Queen Mary University of London, said:

“The justification of the ban seems to lack logic. A need to regulate EC as any other nicotine products is cited but none of the boards banned NRT. The claim that EC are unregulated is false. EC have to comply with a number of consumer protection regulations, like any other consumer product. It is not clear why hospitals should worry about ‘ role modelling for young people’, a concern which has no support in available evidence, rather than about the comfort and well-being of their patients. Whatever the motives for the ban, it is not in the interest of patients or public health.”

Declared interests

Prof. Peter Hajek: I have no links with any tobacco or e-cigarette manufacturers. My research into the safety and effects of e-cigarettes is funded by UKCTAS, MHRA and NIHR.