THE use of e-cigarettes have been banned on Monmouthshire council’s premises after councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal.

Monmouthshire councillors have followed in the footsteps of Caerphilly County Borough Council in banning e-cigarettes on council premises. The motion was put forward by councillor Tony Easson, member for Dewstow, at a full council meeting in County Hall, Usk.

He said: “My concern is that in western countries e-cigarettes are being promoted as an alternative to smoking. This could develop into tobacco use.

“Council property should be a place where e-cigarettes are prohibited from.”

The move is in line with the approach taken by the Welsh Government and the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

The Welsh Government in their white paper bill proposed a ban on e-cigarettes in public places which could include the use in enclosed public spaces, substantially enclosed public places and work places.

Professor Mark Drakeford, health minister, cited concerns that e-cigarettes could normalise smoking behaviour and shared concerns of the impact of e-cigarettes on the enforcement of the smoking ban.

Electronic cigarettes are devices which are used as a vaporiser to deliver a chemical mixture typically composed of nicotine, propylene glycol and are offered in various flavours.

The consultation for the white paper bill ended on June 24.