Over 1,200 health leaders call for swift passage of UK tobacco and vapes bill

Over 1200 public health professionals have urged political parties to ensure the swift passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, warning that an estimated 124,600 young people (aged 18-25) will have taken up smoking since the legislation was first introduced last November.

As the House of Lords begins the Bill’s committee stage today, a coalition of doctors, midwives, public health directors, smoking cessation advisors, academics, clinicians, nurses, trading standards officers, environmental health professionals and councillors have written to health spokespeople demanding swift passage of the legislation, calling it a ‘historic opportunity to protect future generations.’

The open letter lays bare the real cost of political drift. It has been six months since Parliament last debated the Bill in April, so around 60,000 young people will have started smoking in that time. Another six months of ministerial silence would be nothing short a national failure, say the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health who convened the letter.

The world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, one of the most ambitious public health measures in decades, would make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 1 January 2009, creating a smokefree generation. It will also grant the government the power to curb the irresponsible marketing of vapes to children.

Signatories to the letter, which highlights the six-month delay since the Bill’s last appearance in Parliament, stress that the legislation is a once in a generation opportunity to turn the tide on tobacco, protect young people and save tens of thousands of lives.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK, responsible for over 70,000 deaths every year.

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health said: “Every week thousands of young people become trapped in a cycle of deadly addiction that will shorten their lives. Tobacco is a uniquely harmful product, killing more than half of long-term users. Politicians can protect future generations by passing this truly game-changing legislation.”

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive at The King’s Fund said:

The ban on selling tobacco to younger generations is a world leading measure that sits at the heart of the government’s health mission. Until recently, the creation of a society free from the harms of tobacco would have felt like a pipe dream, but now it is within ministers’ grasp.

‘Smoking has devastating consequences for people’s lives, drives health inequalities and places huge costs on health and social care services. The game-changing measures in this Bill are far too important to let it slip off the Parliamentary agenda. I and many others urge ministers to press ahead with what is likely to be one of their most positive and far-reaching actions in government.’

Peter Roderick, spokesperson for addiction for the Association of Directors of Public Health said:

“Smoking doesn’t just kill smokers. It also kills a significant number of non-smokers, including infants and children. In the UK, these numbers are far fewer than they were before the restrictions on advertising and sales, and on smoking in public places.

“It is therefore vitally important that this Bill, which is an opportunity to save even more lives, protect future generations from becoming addicted to this lethal product, and give freedom to live a healthier life to the 88% of people – including thousands of medically vulnerable people – who don’t smoke, is passed without further delay.”

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the biggest public health measure the government can take towards protecting the health of young people. By creating a smoke-free future, younger generations will be saved from this deadly addiction that devastates lives. These figures show the tragic consequences of delaying this lifesaving legislation while smoking remains the biggest cause of lung disease death in the UK. We need legislators to take urgent action to prevent even more young people taking up smoking.

“Alongside these measures, there must be additional funding for smoking cessation services, which provide vital support for the millions of existing smokers to quit. This funding should come from a levy on the tobacco industry, which continues to make enormous profits off causing untold harm.”

Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of policy and information, said:

“Smoking remains the leading cause of cancer in the UK but the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is an historic opportunity to change this. I urge all Members of the House of Lords to help progress this legislation swiftly. Supporting this world-leading Bill will help to protect future generations from a lifetime of deadly, costly addiction and bring us closer to ending cancers caused by smoking. Tobacco is a uniquely toxic product that deserves no place in our future.”

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“Smoking is still a major killer, linked to as many as 18,000 people losing their lives to cardiovascular disease every year. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect the next generation from the dangers of tobacco, so we’re urging parliamentarians to help get this legislation enshrined in law as quickly as possible. We can’t afford to delay, as every day of inaction puts more young lives at risk of future heart disease and early death.”

Read the letter here and view the job titles and organisation of signatories here.