The tobacco and vapes bill has now passed its final stages in the House of Commons. It is expected to receive royal assent and become and become act of parliament next week.
The bill, which aims to create a ‘smokefree generation’, passed its final House of Lords stage last month and was then returned to the commons for consideration of amendments. As well as phasing out the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 2009, the bill will also as tighten the regulations around vape flavours and packaging to make the products less appealing to children. First introduced by the previous government, it was then shelved following the announcement of a General Election. The current government reintroduced the bill in November 2024.
More than a million people in the UK quit smoking last year according to a recent report from UCL, while the latest ONS figures showed that the number of vapers has now overtaken the number of smokers for the first time.
The tobacco and vapes bill clearing its final parliamentary stage was a ‘decisive turning point for public health’, said ASH chief executive Hazel Cheeseman. ‘The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain. Over the past 50 years smoking has claimed millions of lives across the UK, leaving a legacy of preventable pain and loss. Ending its harm is a lasting gift to generations ahead and families everywhere can now feel secure that their children can grow up free from the harm of tobacco.’
This year’s Global Forum on Nicotine, which aims to advance the dialogue on strategies for reducing tobacco-related harm, takes place in Warsaw on 3-5 June. Details and registration available here