Even cigar-chomping Winston Churchill would see the sense in smoking ban
No parent wants their child to start smoking. The new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, to be debated next week, is about protecting future generations from the harms of tobacco. Adult smokers will continue to be free to smoke should they wish, although we will still encourage them to quit.
It will save thousands of lives, as well as billions of pounds for the NHS, by ensuring that no child turning 15 this year or younger can ever be sold tobacco legally.
We are also introducing new measures to curb the alarming rise in youth vaping, with powers to restrict vape flavours, packaging and how vapes are displayed in shops to protect children.
Is this policy Conservative, some have asked? I profoundly believe it is. In doing so I draw inspiration from the words of a brilliant former Telegraph correspondent, who became our greatest prime minister.
I am referring, of course, to Winston Churchill, who once wrote of his relief from passing from “the tossing sea of cause and theory to the firm ground of result and fact”.
One of the foundations of the Conservative Party is that we take tough decisions to protect future generations. That applies to the burdens of debt repayments and growing the economy. It should apply to addiction too.
So as our former prime minister said, our thinking must be led by the facts. And when it comes to smoking and vaping, the facts are stark.
No safe level of consumption
Smoking is the single-biggest entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability and death in this country. It claims 80,000 lives a year and causes 70 per cent of lung cancer cases.
Tobacco products are the only consumer goods you can buy on the high street for which there is no safe level of consumption.
The impact of this goes way beyond our health. Our analysis shows that the cost of smoking costs the nation £17 billion a year through ill health and sickness. That’s the equivalent of 7p in every £1 of income received – far outweighing the tax brought in.
And we also know that the overwhelming majority of smokers wish they had never started.
With vaping, the facts show that teenage vaping has trebled in three years. As the mum of a near-teenager, this worries me and I know it worries other parents too.
This is why we are bringing forward this landmark legislation. The result will be that future generations are prevented from developing an addiction to nicotine.
Smoking not criminalised
Smoking itself will not be criminalised under this Bill. And we’re phasing the change in so that anyone who can legally buy tobacco now will never be prevented from doing so in future. An adult Winston Churchill would still be able to smoke his famous cigars.
We respect that people’s attitudes on this issue are a matter of conscience, and therefore in keeping with historical precedent on smoking legislation, next week’s vote will be a free vote for MPs.
This Government is focused on taking the long-term decisions that will benefit our country for generations to come and that is why we are committed to delivering the world’s first smoke-free generation.
The public agrees. A recent YouGov poll of 13,000 adults found over two thirds of people support our Bill, including a majority of smokers. They overwhelmingly support our proposals on vaping, too.
That is why I am proud to be voting in favour of the Bill next week. It will save lives, free up precious resources for the NHS – and, crucially, build a brighter future for our children.
Victoria Atkins is Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
