More than 1,200 public health professionals have called for the swift passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to “protect future generations”.
In an open letter, signed by a coalition including doctors, nurses, smoking cessation advisers, trading standards officers and public health directors, they said that the “game-changing” measures outlined in the bill were “far too important to let it slip off the agenda”.
They warned that more than 120,000 young people have started smoking since the bill was first introduced last November.
The House of Lords is scrutinising the bill as its enters its committee stage today (October 27).
The bill would make it illegal for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 to ever buy tobacco. It also includes powers to restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes.
The letter, coordinated by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), says there has been a six-month gap between the bill’s second reading in April and today’s debate.
Another six months of ministerial silence would be nothing short of “national failure,” says ASH.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of ASH explains: “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.”
