The Tobacco and Vapes Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 5 November 2024, which intends “to make provision about the supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including provision prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009 and provision about the licensing of retail sales and the registration of retailers; to enable product and information requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products; to control the advertising and promotion of tobacco, vapes and other products; and to make provision about smoke-free places, vape-free places and heated tobacco-free places.”
The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd. The Senedd Members give their say on this today.
James Evans MS said:
“There are elements of this Bill which I am not against. But I do have serious concerns about banning of tobacco to anyone born after a certain time. This is an overreach of the state and will prove to be ineffective in stopping young people from smoking. If people want to smoke, they will. I believe this will lead to increased illegal sales of cigarettes, which we all know are very dangerous.
“This legislation is not addressing the growing issue of vaping amongst our young people, the wide range of flavours like bubble-gum or blue slush, which are clearly targeted at a younger audience.
“There has to be some personal decision making. At 18 you can decide whether you want to drink alcohol, you could be paying taxes, voting etc – yet this legislation is saying you cannot smoke. Welsh Government should be focussing their efforts on helping people to stop smoking, both cigarettes and vapes – not curtailing our freedoms. What’s next?”
