Legal Framework

The use of e-cigarettes and any other electronic nicotine delivery device is not currently covered by smokefree legislation.  Smoking is defined clinically and in law and an e-cigarette does not meet either definition. 

This policy takes advice and guidance from Public Health England’s document ‘Use of e-cigarettes in the workplace – Advice to inform evidence based policy making.’¹ and the South East E-Cigarette Position Statement (2020)^2.

The Council acknowledges that Public Health England highlights that the current medical evidence suggests that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, may also be used as an aid to quitting smoking and that current evidence shows no risk of harm to bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette vapours and that the risks to their health are likely to be extremely low. However, the Council also acknowledges that the long term health effects of vaping and passive vaping are not known and that the exhaled vapours from e-cigarettes could potentially be a respiratory irritant to some people.      

• Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• South East E-cigarette Position Statement