Deputies will vote on the historic bill for the creation of a smoke-free zone

MPs will vote today (16 April 2024) on world-leading legislation to protect future generations across the UK from the harmful effects of smoking.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it an offense to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009 – children aged 15 or younger today. Smoking itself would not be criminalized and anyone who can legally buy tobacco today would never be prevented from doing so in the future by legislation. If passed, the bill will move to the next stage, bringing the UK closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.

Responsible for around 80,000 deaths a year, tobacco is the single biggest preventable killer in the UK and costs the NHS and the economy around £17bn a year – far more than the £10bn annual income from tobacco taxation.

It's also highly addictive – 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and remain addicted for the rest of their lives, despite the fact that most smokers have tried to quit.

The legislation will cover all tobacco products, recognizing that smoking kills two-thirds of long-term users. In England alone, almost every minute someone is admitted to hospital with a smoking-related illness.

The bill will help deliver on the prime minister's commitment to a smoke-free generation, which could prevent over 470,000 cases of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other deadly diseases by the end of the century.

Alongside action to prevent future smokers from becoming smokers, the government has already announced significant extra funding for stop smoking services over the next 5 years, effectively doubling the money available for local initiatives that can help existing smokers to quit. The government is also creating an innovative financial incentive scheme to help all pregnant smokers quit.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

Many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irrevocably changed by smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK's biggest preventable killer.

The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation.

This bill will save thousands of lives, ease the burden on the NHS and improve UK productivity.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also give the government new powers to tackle youth vaping by restricting flavors and regulating how vapes are sold and packaged to make them less appealing to children.

While vaping can play a useful role in helping adult smokers quit, non-smokers and children should never smoke. The long-term health effects of vaping are unknown, and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive.

To ensure compliance with the new rules, trading standards officers will be given new powers to issue on-the-spot penalties (fixed penalty notices) to retailers who illegally sell tobacco or vape to children. All money raised will be used to fund further enforcement actions.

The bill follows a previously stated commitment by governments to ban the sale and supply of disposable vaping under existing environmental legislation, which has been a key factor behind the rise in youth vaping. The ban is scheduled to take effect from April 2025.

Public Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said:

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of disability, ill health and death in this country. Once it becomes a habit, its addictive nature means it's extremely difficult to stop.

Because the case against these harmful products is so strong, it is not surprising that the majority of the British public – including smokers and those who sell tobacco – support plans to protect the next generation from the misery of drinking of tobacco.

Our plan will save lives, ease the burden on the NHS and ensure a brighter future for our children.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said:

Smoking kills and causes harm at all stages of life, from stillbirth, asthma in children, stroke, cancer to heart attack and dementia.

This bill, if passed, will have a fundamental impact – preventing disease, disability and premature death long into the future.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (GRACE), said:

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill being voted on today is radical but, as hard as it is to believe now, so were the smoke-free laws when they were put through Parliament. Parliamentarians can make sure that the public they represent supports the bill.

New research just published by GRACE shows that the majority of tobacconists and the public, including smokers, support the legislation and the ambition of the smoke-free generation it is designed to deliver. This historic legislation will consign tobacco to the ash heap of history.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said:

Smoking continues to wreak havoc on the nations health, claiming 15,000 lives in the UK each year from cardiovascular disease alone.

Raising the smoking age every year will be a game-changer, meaning future generations are protected from serious disease and death caused by smoking.

Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy – we urge every MP to vote for this landmark legislation at second reading.

Professor Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said:

Undoubtedly, the introduction of the smoking and vaping bill will save lives.

By stopping children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco, we reduce their chances of developing preventable diseases later in life and protect children from the harms of nicotine addiction.

As pediatricians, we strongly urge Members of Parliament to use the important responsibility they have and support this bill to protect the current and future health of our children and nations.

Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said:

Today's vote is a critical step towards making the UK a world leader in tobacco control. By voting in favor of the selling age legislation, MPs will put us on the right side of history and help create the first smoke-free generation.

Smoking is still the leading cause of cancer in the UK. Now is the time to take action, end smoking-related cancer and save lives.