New Tobacco and Vapes Bill backed by public, health charities and politicians
Today, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and other leading members of the Smokefree Action Coalition and local councillors praised the Government for returning the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament.
The Bill, which completed Committee Stage in the last Parliament, will introduce the phased-out sale of tobacco for the next generation and grant the government further powers to regulate vapes. Raising the age of sale – so no-one born on or after 2009 can legally be sold tobacco – had strong cross-party support in the last Parliament and has the backing of voters from across the political spectrum and a majority of every British constituency. Support stands at 74% among Labour voters (11% opposed), 70% among Conservatives (13% oppose), and 75% among Liberal Democrats (9% oppose). [1]
The new Bill goes further than the last, with:
- Further powers to regulate the design of vapes;
- A ban on vape advertising and sponsorship;
- Powers to create a retail licensing regime for the sale of tobacco and vapes;
- Powers to extend smokefree legislation to further outdoor areas;
- Powers to prohibit vaping in smokefree places.
How the powers in the bill will be used will be subject to a consultation and further regulations. Government have indicated that while the English consultation on regulations will not include hospitality settings, other parts of the UK may choose to consult on these.
Health leaders expressed strong support for the Bill.
ASH Chair, Prof Nick Hopkinson, said:
“This Bill starts the journey towards creating a country where young people will never start smoking and can live their lives free from the premature disability and death caused by the tobacco industry. The UK is going to continue to lead the world in tobacco legislation.
“We welcome inclusion of powers to extend smokefree legislation to outdoor places in the bill. It is important to have the debate about how we will protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of secondhand smoke. We will fully respond to any consultation and encourage the public to communicate their support for protection from secondhand smoke.
“A key next step is for the government to set out further how it will help the UK’s 6 million smokers to quit. This will require a properly funded plan paid for by a levy on tobacco companies.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said:
“We are delighted to see landmark legislation to create a smokefree generation brought to Parliament. Smoking continues to have a devastating impact on our national health, taking thousands of lives across the UK each year, and tough measures must be taken to ensure future generations don’t die early because of tobacco.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to raising the age of sale for tobacco every year, as well as further action to protect children and clinically vulnerable people such as those living with heart disease from second hand smoke in schools, playgrounds and hospital grounds. We also welcome measures to make vaping less appealing to young people. We know the vast majority of the public back the aims of this Bill, and we urge MPs of all parties to support this life-saving legislation and vision of a smokefree UK.”
Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Policy, said:
“Today is a significant step forward in the journey to creating a smokefree UK. By increasing the age of sale of tobacco products and properly funding cessation services, the government can build a healthier future, prevent cancer, and protect people from a lifetime of deadly and costly addiction.
“We urge all MPs to prioritise the nation's health by voting in favour of the Bill and ensuring that this historic legislation is implemented across the UK."
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said:
“Passing this Bill will be one of the most consequential actions of this Parliament with far-reaching benefits for the health of future generations.
“The sooner this legislation can pass, the better. Phasing out smoking will save thousands of lives, prevent ill-health and reduce the enormous burden smoking imposes on our economy and health and care services.”
Greg Fell, Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) President, said:
“Smoking doesn’t just kill smokers, it also kills a significant number of non-smokers worldwide every year, including infants and children. In the UK, these numbers are far fewer than they were before the restrictions on advertising and sales, and on smoking in public places, were introduced. That legislation has saved thousands of lives and given much more freedom to the 88% of people who don’t smoke, including thousands of medically vulnerable people.
“Today’s proposals are an opportunity to extend this freedom and protect future generations from ever becoming addicted to this lethal product, laying the foundations for a healthier, more productive and smokefree UK.
“Moving forward, it is vital that the Government works with local authorities and communities to make sure that this legislation is as effective as possible while at the same time, continuing to support those who want to quit.”
Henry Gregg, Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“The government is taking a huge step forward in the fight against the harms of smoking, the biggest cause of lung disease death in the UK, by tabling the Tobacco and Vapes bill. Creating a smoke-free generation is one of the most impactful things the UK can do to protect future generations from developing lung conditions caused by smoking. The highest rates of respiratory-related deaths are overwhelmingly in the most deprived areas, where people are also more likely to smoke. This landmark legislation will play a vital role in closing this gap, as well as easing some of the £2.2bn burden that smoking places on the NHS each year." [2]
Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands and Co-Chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, said:
“Smoking during pregnancy is a leading cause of poor birth outcomes including stillbirth and miscarriage. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will play an important role in reducing smoking rates among the young people who are most likely to smoke during pregnancy. By 2033, this could mean around 10,000 fewer women are smoking at the start of their pregnancy compared to rates today. It is vital that we do everything we can to support prospective mums and parents to be smokefree to give every baby a smokefree start in life.”
Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation and Co-Chair of the Mental Health and Smoking Partnership, said:
“Smoking disproportionally harms people with mental health conditions and leads to sicker, shorter lives. Creating a smokefree generation will help many to avoid these devastating inequalities but support is also needed for those who are smoking now.
“We welcome further regulations on vaping to protect young people from addiction. However, these regulations must be balanced. For many currently smoking and living with poor mental health quitting can be a challenge and aids like vaping can be transformative. Vapes must remain accessible to those they can benefit.”
The new Bill enjoys cross-party support in local government, in addition to support from voters and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.
Cllr Bob Lanzer, Conservative Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing at West Sussex County Council, said:
“As a local councillor I see first-hand the devastating impact smoking has on my community, with the burden falling disproportionately on the most vulnerable groups. I welcomed the plans set out by the last Conservative government to create a smokefree generation and I am pleased to see this taken forward by the new government.”
Cllr Linda Chambers, Liberal Democrat portfolio holder for Health and Adult Services at Hull City Council, said:
“The burden of smoking falls heaviest on communities like mine in Hull, with 500 people every year dying from smoking-related illness and a cost to our local economy of around £352 million a year.
“When I worked as a nurse, I witnessed time and again the devastating effects smoking had on people’s lives. Often when going off duty I would pass patients all lined up outside, still smoking. No other consumer product is as addictive or as lethal. We must spare the next generation from this terrible addiction which is why I urge MPs to back the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to end smoking once and for all.”
Cllr Lucia Des Neves, Labour Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing, said:
“My community suffers every day because of the hardships caused by smoking. Ending this cannot come too quickly. Tobacco companies have prayed on low income and vulnerable communities as more affluent parts of the population have quit smoking. Tobacco has no place in the healthy and prosperous places we want to create, and this legislation will move us closer to a day when smoking is a footnote of history.”
Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture at Hackney Council, said:
“Hackney residents overwhelmingly support the government’s efforts to create a smoke free generation. The effects of smoking end or ruin the lives of our citizens every day and supporting more people to be smoke free is a key priority across the capital.
“It is vital for the health and wellbeing of our communities that the government gets this critical bill through parliament and on the statute book as soon as possible. In return, local councils will do all we can to help the government create a truly smoke free society.”
The Smokefree Action Coalition, public health leaders, and local government representatives call on MPs to seize this opportunity to save lives and reduce smoking-related harm across the UK.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information see: ash.org.uk. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.
For interviews and more information, contact press@ash.org.uk
References
[1] https://ash.org.uk/media-centre/news/press-releases/new-poll-shows-every-parliamentary-constituency-in-great-britain-backs-phasing-out-sale-of-tobacco
[2] https://ash.org.uk/uploads/CBPF-model-May-2024.pdf