The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to create a smoke-free generation, and would make the UK the first country to outright ban smoking. The proposed law would make the sale of tobacco illegal for anyone born on or after the 1st of July 2009. This would mean that the age of tobacco sale would go up by one year every year to stop the next generation from being able to take up smoking. For current smokers, it would have little to no impact as the bill will not affect those who are already able to buy tobacco.
It also holds some provisions for the restriction and regulation of the display, contents, flavours and packaging of vapes and nicotine products, in order to limit the appeal of these products to children.
Sunak first announced this bill at the Conservative party conference last year. This past month, it has been working its way through the commons, having just had its second reading on the 16th of April 2024. It is expected to reach a final vote in the Lords in the middle of June, although it still has a lot of hurdles to pass in the Commons.
Health officials are praising the bill, stating that it would save thousands of lives and thereby alleviate some of the pressure on health services by helping to reduce the estimated 80,000 deaths caused by smoking every year. On the other hand, many of Sunak’s own party members are not so pleased with the bill. Liz Truss said the plans are “profoundly unconservative”, alongside Boris Johnson, who described the ban as “nuts”.
However, on an international stage, many other countries are also increasing their restrictions surrounding the sale and use of tobacco. A similar law in New Zealand was expected to come into effect in July until the new coalition government had it repealed. In Portugal, they are aiming to become smoke-free by 2040, with plans to ban the sale of tobacco products in bars and cafes. Spain too has approved new anti-smoking plans to increase the amount of tax on tobacco products as well as ban smoking in outdoor terraces and outdoor seating areas at bars and restaurants. Sunak’s bill is but the next in a long line of tighter restrictions on tobacco.