Tom Earnshaw
The UK government has officially put forward its plans to ban smoking as part of a new parliamentary bill it hopes to turn in to law.
Dubbed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government is picking up where Rishi Sunak left, after the former prime minister first revealed plans to ban smoking back in 2023.
The bill was dropped due to the 2024 general election, with Sunak saying he was 'disappointed' his flagship policy did not get turned in to law before he left Downing Street.
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But Sir Keir has picked up the plans, which had cross-party support when Labour were in opposition before winning the keys to Number 10.
As a result, the updated Tobacco and Vapes Bill has today (5 November) been introduced in to Parliament by the Government, promising 'tougher action to better protect the public, NHS and the economy from the harms of smoking'.
Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the UK Government will create a 'world-leading' smoke free generation, with those born after January 2009 banned from buying tobacco products.
That will be cigarettes, tobacco pouches, and cigars. The hope is to break the cycle of addiction associated with smoking for those currently under 15 and generations to come.
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As well as this, the Government will be given powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces. It will target children’s playgrounds, outside schools and hospital.
All of these options are being considered and will be debated by politicians as it makes its way through the House of Commons and House of Lords.
Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, a ban on vape advertising and sponsorship is being introduced.
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Powers will also be brought in restricting the flavours, display and packaging of all types of vapes, as well as other nicotine products.
Disposable vapes are also due to be banned from 1 June, 2025 under separate environmental legislation. The new proposals are also separate to plans to bring in a first of its kind vaping tax.
In a move that will delight the hospitality industry, Labour has confirmed a u-turn on plans to introduce a smoking and vaping ban in beer gardens up and down the country.
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"We're not going ahead or not proposing to go ahead with a ban on outdoor hospitality," Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said.
Mr Streeting said the hospitality sector 'has taken a battering in recent years' and that talk of a ban was simply 'leaked government discussion' that produced 'really good debate' about whether it was correct or not.
He said: "We don't want to add to their pressure - so we're not proposing to go ahead with an outdoor hospitality ban at this time."
The Government says that almost every minute, someone is admitted to hospital because of smoking and up to 75,000 GP appointments can be attributed to smoking each month; more than 100 every hour.
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Mr Streeting said: "Unless we act to help people stay healthy, the rising tide of ill-health in our society threatens to overwhelm and bankrupt our NHS. Prevention is better than cure.
"This government is taking bold action to create the first smoke-free generation, clamp down on kids getting hooked on nicotine through vapes, and protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke.
"This historic legislation will save thousands of lives and protect the NHS. By building a healthy society, we will also help to build a healthy economy, with fewer people off work sick."
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will now go through the official processes in Parliament in order to become legislation. This could be fast-tracked in a matter of weeks or left to usual procedure, which will mean a timescale of a good few months, at least, before it is given Royal Assent.