CIEH welcomes progress of historic legislation which could protect future generations from the harms of smoking

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the progress of the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill through the House of Commons.

The Bill seeks to phase out the sale of tobacco and protect future generations from the harms of smoking. CIEH believes that this would be a major breakthrough in public health.

MPs have voted in favour of the Bill during its Third Reading, bringing its introduction one step closer to becoming law. The comprehensive Bill will prevent people born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever legally being sold tobacco, as well as including regulations to reduce the appeal of vapes to young people.

The progress of this Bill is an important step in the fight to reduce smoking prevalence and ultimately reduce rates of smoking-related disease.

Environmental health professionals will play a critical role in making sure these regulations are properly enforced and in safeguarding public health, should they ultimately come into law.

By creating more smoke-free spaces, this will further reduce the visibility of smoking for children and young people in certain areas, e.g., parks, playgrounds or near schools, and encourage attempts to quit smoking by limiting the spaces in which smoking is acceptable.

The Bill was passed with the support of 366 MPs from across the house, with just 41 voting against, showing that there is a real shared commitment to change and in protecting future generations from the harms of smoking.

The Government also confirmed during the debate that funding would continue for the Swap to Stop scheme which provides free vaping products to people trying to quit smoking and the scheme that provides financial incentives to support pregnant women to quit.

While CIEH supported the banning of the sale of disposable vapes which it believes will help mitigate the risks to children’s health with the alarming increase in youth vaping while preventing disposables from further polluting the environment, CIEH does recognise the positive impact more sustainable vaping products can have on supporting smokers to quit.

Professor Jim McManus, Honorary Vice President of CIEH, said:

“Environmental health professionals have a long history of challenging the impacts of tobacco use. The vote in favour of this Bill is an important milestone in the journey to end the undoubted damage caused by smoking and set us on a path to a smoke-free generation.

“It is encouraging to see support for this Bill across the house and the devolved nations and a coordinated approach to introducing this legislation, with sufficient lead-in time and guidance provided, will be vital to ensuring that enforcement and compliance are consistent and effective.

“Our members will be central to making sure any new regulations that are ultimately introduced are properly enforced, once again highlighting the importance of the profession in safeguarding public health.”