APPG Loves the Legislation

Anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health coordinates the activities of the APPG. It says members of the group have been calling for the reintroduction of the Bill since it was included in the King’s Speech in July, and last month hosted an event with smoking survivors and bereaved families, attended by the Public Health Minister, to emphasise the importance of the legislation.

As covered elsewhere this week, the Bill will: 

• Introduce a rolling age ban on tobacco sales
• Create a licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco and vapes
• Extend the number of smokefree areas 
• Ban vaping in smokefree places
• Extend the ban on vape advertising and sponsorship
• Limit the design, display and flavours of vapes

Conservative Bob Blackman, Co-Chair of the APPG, said: “It is very welcome to see the Tobacco and Vapes Bill being re-introduced to Parliament today. I am proud that it was a Conservative government that won the argument for raising the age of sale for tobacco to create a smokefree generation. The key measures in this Bill have already been scrutinised and received strong cross-party support in the last Parliament, so the new government has no excuses for not progressing this legislation quickly.

“I am pleased to see that the Bill includes the introduction of a licensing scheme for tobacco and vapes. This is something which I proposed as an amendment to the Bill in the last Parliament and will make it easier to prosecute retailers who break the law. I look forward to scrutinising the new powers in the Bill closely and seeing the ambition of a smokefree generation realised.”

Labour’s Mary Foy, Co-Chair of the APPG, commented: “I welcome the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which includes urgently needed proposals to create a smokefree generation and curb youth vaping. In 2022, I tabled amendments to the Health and Care Bill which would have given the government powers to tackle the marketing of vapes to children. However, my amendments were rejected by ministers despite strong cross-party support. I am glad that these much-needed measures will finally be implemented although I wish it had not taken so long. I look forward to supporting the Bill and urge colleagues from all parties to do their part to create a smokefree generation and protect children from vaping.”

Lib Dem Lord Chris Rennard, Vice Chair of the APPG, added: “350 young adults take up smoking every day in the UK, many of whom will become trapped in a lifetime of addiction and premature death. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is sorely needed to prevent young people from this deadly addiction.

“While this legislation is welcome, there are still 6 million adult smokers in the UK who need more support to quit smoking. The government urgently needs to step up its efforts to support smokers from the most disadvantaged groups who face greater barriers to quitting, such as those living in social housing or with mental health conditions. This is vital to ensure that the most disadvantaged are not left behind as we move towards a smokefree future.”

Finally, Labour’s Jim Dickson, Vice Chair of the APPG, concluded: “It is a historic day that this Labour Government is returning the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament. A smokefree future for the UK is within sight after decades of avoidable disability, death and economic damage caused by the Tobacco Industry. The Bill marks the first step in this Government's bold mission to improve the health of the nation and reduce inequalities. As we move towards a smokefree future we must ensure that no smoker is left behind and deliver on Labour's manifesto pledge for opt-out smoking cessation services as part of routine care."

Sadly, none of them, regardless of party, appear to care about the evidence showing that restrictions on vaping drive down teen use but drive-up teen smoking rates – and making vapes less attractive to adult smokers will send out the wrong message.

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.