In the wake of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill clearing parliament, questions are being raised about how effective it will be in preventing under-18s from taking up smoking.
On Tuesday (21st April), the legislation was approved by both the House of Commons and House of Lords, meaning it now awaits Royal Assent.
Once enacted, the bill will make it illegal to sell tobacco products, herbal smoking products or cigarette papers to anyone born on or after 1st January, 2009. It will also be an offence to buy, or attempt to buy, these products on behalf of someone underage.
Vaping will also be restricted in certain areas, including cars carrying children, playgrounds and outside schools and at hospitals, expanding smoke-free laws. However, it will remain permitted outside hospitals in a bid to support those trying to stop.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the news as a historic moment for the nation’s health. He said: ‘Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS and build a healthier Britain.’
Meanwhile, Lord Naseby, a Conservative former MP, said the bill ‘does upset a great many people in that industry’, including retailers. He told the Lords: ‘What we really need is a proper understanding of how we education people not to take up smoking.’
Building on those comments, people have taken to social media to express scepticism about how effective the smoking ban will be.
One facebook comment read: ‘Do you really think the tobacco companies are just going to shut up shop and forget about their profits.’
Another said: ‘Agreed in parliament but not made into a law, because it would be impossible to police. Smokers cost the NHS billions a year. Some people with COPD continue to smoke even though they can hardly breath and have multiple hospital admissions. That is just one disease than can be caused by smoking, others are lung cancer and chronic chest infections.’
They added: ‘Banning smoking won’t work though. Tobacco products are so expensive now people are turning to illegal products. Illegal cigarettes and loose tobacco are become more available through small shops selling them. At least four shops in my small town have been closed because they sold counterfeit tobacco products. This will cause more people to get ill because nobody knows what is in the products.’
Against this backdrop, latest data from NHS England shows around 120,000 to 130,000 teenagers aged 11 to 15 in England currently smoke, representing about 3% of this age group.
In addition, 11% of people in this age group report having tried a cigarette at least once. The most common source for young smokers is being given them by friends (48%), followed by purchasing them from shops.
While some remain uncertain about the impact of the legislation, Sarah Sleet from Asthma + Lung UK said the bill promised to transform the nation’s health.
‘Now that this groundbreaking bill is finally over the line, we have a chance to go further to protect public health and hold the tobacco industry to account,’ she said.
‘Right now we have a postcode lottery, which is why the tobacco industry should pay through a levy to reduce the harm they cause by funding these critical services across the UK.’
Image: Mathew MacQuarrie/UnSplash
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