WHAT’S NEW?
A look at what we’ve been doing since January this year. Surveys, Training Workshop, Campaigns, and more…
VAPING SURVEY RESULTS
ASH Wales have recently conducted a Vaping Survey throughout secondary schools in Wales
In a first-of-its-kind survey, ASH Wales have asked young people in secondary schools nationwide about their perceptions and experiences on vaping.
The anonymous data will provide a foundation of information to answer questions such as what demographics are vaping, how many young people are using the devices, what products they’re using, how they’re accessing these products, and ultimately how we can take action to protect them from these products.
First insight into the results will be discussed in our webinar on Thursday 25th April at 6pm. The webinar also covers the latest news on what is being done in Wales to tackle the issue of underage vaping, and where parents and carers can seek help.
A full press release on the results will be released in May 2024.
WALES TOBACCO OR HEALTH NETWORK EVENT
Please join us for our in-person Wales Tobacco or Health Network 2024 event where we will explore the growing availability of new nicotine and tobacco products being marketed to a new generation of nicotine dependants.
This event will grow our knowledge and support our understanding of these novel products; finding out exactly what they are, where they are, who is using them and what impact they’re having.
Important for anyone working with children and young people, from teachers and lecturers to youth workers and community leaders, we will hear the experiences of other European countries on how novel products infiltrated their markets and what has been done to control their use.
WORKSHOPS & TRAINING
ASH Wales are delivering educational packages to schools on vaping and smoking. Our Project Delivery Leader can provide school staff with training or deliver an educational workshop to students.
Further to this, our website is currently being updated with a training section, due to be launched in May. We are also developing a brand new session around Cannabis Co-Use and Cannabis Vaporisers.
If you or someone you know is interested in the packages or above sessions we have on offer and would like to know more, contact Tirion our Project Delivery Leader:
TOBACCO & VAPES BILL
The Bill aims to raise the age of sale for tobacco products by one year every year, starting with those born after 1 January 2009. It also aims to tackle youth vaping by making nicotine products less attractive and available to children and young people.
An encouraging 65% of Welsh MPs voted in favour of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill during the second reading in Westminster on 16th April.
ASH Wales has led from the front on the consultation, communication and engagement with Welsh MPs on the Bill, co-ordinating briefings and letters to politicians from the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance. The Bill now moves to committee stages and will be discussed in UK Parliament again on 30 April.
RETAIL REGISTER
At a Cross Party Group meeting on Tuesday 27th February 2024, chaired by John Griffiths MS, we discussed whether a retail register or licensing scheme for tobacco, vapes and nicotine is the next step in tobacco control in Wales.
Speakers were Professor Jamie Pearce, from Edinburgh University; Marie Brousseau-Navarro, the deputy Future Generations Commissioner for Wales; Claire Howells, manager in licensing and trading standards with Torfaen County Borough Council and Fatma Nur Aksoy, a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
On 13th March this year, we marked No Smoking Day with pop-up events in hospitals, workshops in schools, and an event with politicians in The Senedd.
We sent resources to all corners of Wales, including posters with our face of the campaign, Denise. Denise quit smoking after decades and is testament that it is never too late to quit.
You can watch her incredible story here:
In March, the first beaches in North Wales joined the voluntary Smokefree Beaches initiative. Benllech and Trearddur Bay in Anglesey now join the list of 6 beaches across the Welsh coast taking steps to protect the environment, wildlife and sea life from the harms of discarded cigarette butts.
We invited local schools to join us on Benllech Beach to celebrate the launch of the voluntary initiative. The pupils spoke with BBC and ITV News in between their activities of litter picking, and water safety lessons.
You can listen to what they had to say here:
