Public health leaders urge MPs to pass new tobacco law

Today, we are urging MPs to resist industry pressure and vote in favour of the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The call comes as the Government publishes the Bill, which has widespread support from across all sectors and political parties, as well as the public.

Greg Fell, ADPH President, said:

“This is the single most important piece of health legislation to be put before Parliament in a generation and we are delighted that the Government are prioritising protecting our children from becoming addicted to this lethal product.”

“It is not a done deal however, and we have seen in New Zealand how powerful the tobacco industry is. Over the coming weeks, the tobacco industry will be working equally hard to convince MPs here that this legislation is not required so it is imperative that we keep the facts at the forefront of the conversation.”

Smoking kills 64,000 people in the UK every year. It also causes multiple illnesses and diseases including stillbirths, lung disease, heart disease, stroke and dementia. However, every day, 350 young people start smoking regularly.

As well as causing harm to the individual, smoking also causes harm to those around them through the effects of passive smoking and there is a £17 billion cost to society every year through healthcare, lost productivity and social care costs.

Government modelling estimates that raising the age of sale will avoid up to 115,000 cases of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and other lung diseases by 2075, saving tens of thousands of lives and saving the health and care system billions of pounds.

Fell continued:

“The tobacco industry exists to make a profit and they do that by selling products which are lethal. MPs will undoubtedly be worried about accusations of ‘nanny statism’ but far from being a free choice, most people start smoking when they are young as a result of clever marketing campaigns which specifically target children and young people. They quickly become addicted and then find it incredibly hard to quit.

“Raising the age of sale will protect children and young people from ever becoming addicted in the first place, saving countless lives, improving everyone’s health and wellbeing and making the country a more productive, profitable place to live.”

ADPH has also welcomed the introduction of tighter restrictions on vapes and commitment from the Government to ensure that those responsible for enforcement are adequately resourced and funded.

Fell, who is also Director of Public Health for Sheffield City Council, explained:

“Disposable vapes are both affordable and easily accessible to children, and are having a damaging impact on the environment, so it is right that the Government has committed to act. It is critical though that vapes remain available for adult smokers as vaping can be an effective tool for people trying to quit.

“However, people who don’t smoke shouldn’t vape and marketing vapes to children and young people is absolutely unacceptable. Making packaging plain, banning enticing flavours and keeping vapes out of view will help combat the industry’s focus on targeting children and young people.”