Health Bodies Ignore Bill’s Problems

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. The measure strong cross-party support in the last Parliament and, according to ASH, has “the backing of voters from across the political spectrum and a majority of every British constituency”.

The new Bill will provide powers to regulate the design of vapes – and politicians are probably the very best people to be doing that. It will extend the current ban on vape advertising and sponsorship. It will introduce a retail licensing scheme for the sale of vapes. It will extend non-smoking areas (but not to beer gardens). It will grant powers to ban vaping in smokefree places. The Government is conducting a consultation to develop how the powers will be implemented. 

The ASH Chair, Professor 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.”

Given that Professor Hopkinson has been blocking some vape advocates on social media, it doesn’t seem like ASH is concerned about the negative implications of this Bill.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, commented: “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.”

Studies show that the impact of bans and flavour restrictions does reduce teen vaping – but it drives up teen smoking.

Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Policy, added: “Today is a significant step forward in the journey to creating a smokefree UK. 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.”

Given the wealth of data about vaping CRUK-funded studies have produced, hopefully Dr Walker will be keeping a close eye on the consequences of this Bill.

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, continued: “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, believes: “Today’s proposals are an opportunity to … 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, commented: “The government is taking a huge step forward in the fight against the harms of smoking. 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.”

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.”

Research has found that vaping has been hugely successful at helping pregnant mothers to quit and remain tobacco-free. Removing flavours could change this.

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation and Co-Chair of the Mental Health and Smoking Partnership, wisely said: “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.”

 

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.