UK Parliament Passes Bill to Create “Smoke-Free Generation” by 2030
The UK House of Commons has taken a significant step towards creating a “smoke-free generation” by passing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. If the bill becomes law, anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, will be prohibited from legally purchasing and smoking tobacco products.
In addition to the gradual age increase for tobacco sales, the bill aims to ban the sale of all vaping or nicotine products to individuals under 18. The proposed legislation also grants ministers the authority to regulate the flavors, packaging, and display of vapes to prevent them from appealing to children.
The bill includes a comprehensive ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays visible to children and young people in various public spaces such as buses, cinemas, and shop windows.
On Wednesday evening, the bill cleared the House of Commons with a majority of 325 votes, with 366 MPs voting in favor and 41 against. Health minister Ashley Dalton praised former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his ambition in championing a previous version of the proposals and emphasized that the current bill is even stronger in its commitment to tackling smoking and youth vaping.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), hailed the MPs’ decision as a “major step forward on the journey to end the harm caused by smoking for good.“
The division list revealed that prominent Conservative MPs, including Rishi Sunak and former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, supported the bill, while former cabinet minister Suella Braverman opposed it.
During the bill’s report stage, Ms. Dalton clarified that extending the outdoor smoking ban to hospitality settings is not currently under consideration. The government distanced itself from plans to ban smoking in the gardens of pubs, bars, and restaurants last year following concerns raised by the hospitality sector.
However, the bill would prohibit smoking outside schools, children’s playgrounds, and hospitals.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who voted against the bill, criticized the “tone of moral superiority” in the chamber, arguing that some people enjoy smoking and want to make their own choices. He compared the bill’s supporters to the “spirit of Oliver Cromwell” in their desire to make decisions for others.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will now move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before potentially becoming law. If passed, it could mark a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to reduce the harmful effects of smoking and protect future generations from tobacco addiction.
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