Steve Brine MP comments on Government plans to phase out cigarette use for coming generations and introduce measures to stop children vaping
4 October 2023
Chair's comment
Responding to an announcement from the Prime Minister today to hold a vote in Parliament on introducing a phased legal age restriction on purchasing cigarettes, and measures to reduce the number of children vaping, Health and Social Care Committee Chair Steve Brine MP said:
"I am fully supportive of moves toward a smoke-free generation. It will save tens of thousands of lives given that smoking remains the biggest preventable killer in our country today, and is the embodiment of a long-term decision.
“The line that ‘cigarettes are the only product which will kill you if used correctly’ is true, as is the better news that the positive impact of stopping smoking on health is immediate.
“However, increasing the legal age to purchase cigarettes year on year will not help the people who are addicted today, and I urge the Government to strengthen further tobacco control policies to tackle the levels of smoking which remains one of the largest causes of health disparities and preventable ill health.
“The Health and Social Care committee, which I chair, has been very clear that both the Government and the vaping industry need to take decisive action to protect children from the harmful effects of vaping and we have urged tougher restrictions on packaging and the marketing of vapes in line with those that already apply to tobacco products.
“We have heard compelling evidence about the benefits of vaping for smokers who want to quit or who want a cheaper alternative to tobacco. We need to think very carefully and follow the evidence about the role vaping, including non-disposable vapes, play in giving adults a pathway out of smoking tobacco products.
“I would urge Ministers to mitigate for any unintended consequences before any changes are to be introduced. Any measures that led to a growth of the black market of illegal vapes would be worrying. We’ve heard alarming evidence about hazardous chemicals that these types of vapes can contain.”
Image: CCO