In a significant move to combat smoking and vaping among the youth, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduces the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aiming to incrementally raise the legal age for purchasing cigarettes and restrict appealing vape flavours to children.
The UK government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has initiated legislative steps towards implementing a groundbreaking smoking ban. This legislation, named the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, proposes a progressive increase in the legal age for purchasing cigarettes, targeting individuals born after 2009. The aim is to deter the younger population from adopting smoking habits through gradually raising the age restriction for tobacco sales each year. Additionally, the bill seeks to curtail the appeal of vaping to young individuals by imposing restrictions on vape flavours and packaging that appear to be marketed towards children. Shops failing to adhere to the legislation by preventing underage sales of tobacco and vape products face fines of up to £100 for non-compliance.
While some Conservative MPs have voiced opposition to the bill, Labour’s support indicates a likelihood of its passing later in the year. Despite criticism from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sunak highlights the prospective health benefits, including the reduction of smoking-related illnesses and alleviating the burdens on the NHS. England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, supports the initiative, citing its potential in decreasing illness and premature deaths among future generations. The bill also represents a balanced approach to vaping, aiming to reduce its attractiveness to non-smokers and children while still offering a cessation aid for smokers.
Internationally, this move is reflective of a broader trend towards stringent tobacco control measures, taking inspiration from New Zealand’s earlier, though recently repealed, initiative to phase out tobacco smoking. New Zealand itself has recently imposed a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, alongside heightened penalties for sales of these products to minors. This alteration in New Zealand’s tobacco control strategy comes after the repeal of a unique law aimed at eliminating smoking, replacing it with regulations focusing on preventing youth vaping and reducing smoking rates in alignment with the Smokefree 2025 goal. Despite the shift in approaches, both nations express a sustained commitment to reducing the public health impacts of smoking and vaping, especially among younger populations.
