Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Torbay's MP Kevin Foster has set out his position on the vote held this evening on the above bill:
"This evening the House of Commons voted on the Second Reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Due to the inclusion of the proposed “Generational Ban”, the vote was a free vote for Conservative MPs.
There is a need to overhaul and update the laws on vaping, especially to tackle the growing problems with children doing so. This aspect of the bill is welcome and has my support.
Where my concerns come is with the proposal for a “Generational Ban”, which would see the legal age for purchasing rise each year so someone born on or after 1st January 2009 would never be able to legally buy tobacco products. I therefore abstained in tonight’s vote given my support of other aspects of the bill.
No-one believes children or young people should be smoking and the long-term negative health impacts of doing so are clear. Smoking is a poor choice to make as the health risks are clear and well known, along with the risk of becoming addicted if you decide to do it. These facts mean smoking rates have already declined significantly in the UK and continue to do so as more adults decide not to take up smoking and others quit.
Many of the health impacts from smoking we see today, relate to those who picked up smoking as a habit in the past. It now seems unimaginable that just over 3 decades ago walking into a room full of smoke was a regular experience in many workplaces, whilst most teenagers could legally buy cigarettes from their corner shop, having watched popular household names promoting smoking cigars on primetime TV. The law has rightly changed to end these practices and the impact we see of falling smoking rates reflects this.
If the proposal in today’s bill had been to move the purchasing age for tobacco to 21, I would have voted for it, as this would tackle the issue with those picking up the habit in their mid to late teens and being unable to stop later in life. Whilst this would see some adults treated differently, the age of 21 is an appropriate point if we are to have a differential approach with this issue. Yet the suggestion of changing the purchasing age every year, would see many businesses and retailers having to cope with a constantly changing law, bringing costs and legal uncertainty.
There is also a fundamental question about what role should the Government play in deciding for people what they should do. Previous legislation on tobacco has been about protecting children from taking up a habit which could last for a (shortened) lifetime when they are not old enough to decide on the risks, ensuring tobacco companies cannot use advertising tricks to promote a harmful practice and protecting others who have chosen not to smoke from the harmful effects of passive smoking. Yet this proposal was different, directly aimed at eventually banning it for all adults, deciding for them. Whilst I would advise anyone thinking of smoking not to and if you are smoking to give up now, passing a law to ban this is not the step to take."
Help to quit smoking can be found on the NHS website by following this link: