An MP has called on the government to ban vape brands from sponsoring sports kits to help tackle youth vaping.
This comes after Blackburn Rovers FC has faced criticism by MPs for its sponsorship deal with vape brand Totally Wicked. The brand is currently the football team’s front of shirt sponsor, and the pair have been in partnership for six seasons.
St Helens Rugby Football Club is also sponsored by the vape brand – its stadium is called the Totally Wicked Stadium.
The issue was brought up in parliament today (1 May) by SNP MP Kirsten Oswald. She said: ‘We already know that more than one in five teenagers are vaping, with some experts describing this as an epidemic and yesterday new research suggested that teenagers who vape could be at risk of exposure to toxic metals, potentially harming brain or organ development.
‘I agree with the Prime Minister in his wish to reduce the harms caused by smoking and vaping with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
‘Will he agree with me that permitting football strips to be sponsored by vaping companies sends entirely the wrong message to young people and that it’s now time to ban vape companies advertising on sports strips?’
In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that kit sponsorship decisions ‘rest with individual teams’.
‘I would ask Blackburn Rovers to look themselves in the mirror’
Former health minister Steve Brine has also previously criticised the Blackburn Rovers sponsorship, saying the deal is ‘the opposite of totally wicked in my opinion’.
He said: ‘I would ask Blackburn Rovers to look themselves in the mirror about that one, as much as the company that are doing the advertising, because it takes two to tango.’
This comes after the House of Commons voted in favour of Sunak’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill by 383 votes to 67, bringing it a step closer to becoming law.
If passed, the bill will reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children. It will also make it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 in the UK.
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