Bill to Ban Younger Generation from Smoking and Crackdown on Vapes Clears First Hurdle

SKY NEWS: Anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from ever legally smoking if the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law - with a majority of MPs backing the proposal at the first stage.

A landmark bill to ban the younger generation from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons.

The legislation, backed by 415 to 47, means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from buying tobacco if it ultimately becomes law.

Before then, the bill must go through further parliamentary stages, with MPs able to suggest amendments to any aspects they don't like.

Other measures being proposed include a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, with a possible ban on the sale of sweet vape flavours, subject to consultation.

While tonight's numbers indicate large cross-party support, there was some strong criticism from Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK MPs, who raised concerns about "civil liberties". » | Faye Brown, Political reporter | Tuesday, November 26, 2024

When this country has a democratic government again, this bill, if passed, will have to be repealed. This is a ridiculous bill. It is going to create two-tier ‘citizenship’. At least ‘two-tier Starmer’ is being consistent here!

What is there about left-wingers that they always want to ban things and take people’s rights away from them?

Banning cigarette sales to people born after 2009 will not stop these people smoking cigarettes at all. It will only drive the market underground. The black market for cigarettes will flourish. Black marketeers will make a killing! Further, because cigarette smoking will be banned, it will make the habit more mysterious and attractive. Young people love to do what is forbidden. These politicians really are stupid.

Moreover, if they think they will protect these young people’s health, they need to think again! When young people buy legal cigarettes, the quality of them is assured. So, although they are not healthy, the government can be sure of their quality. This is not the case if cigarettes are bought on the black market. Their quality cannot be assured at all; so they are likely to be even more injurious to the smoker’s health.

Hitherto, UK governments have been successful in reducing the number of smokers by informing people of the dangers to health of smoking. Infomercials are a far more effective tool to reduce smoking than an outright ban.

I have objections to this legislation on so many levels. A book could be written on the stupidity of this legislation.

It is to be hoped that this illiberal, undemocratic legislation put forward by killjoys will fail to pass through Parliament. I am not, however, holding my breath. Common sense in Parliament appears to be a rarity these days.

At the very same time that Starmer and his government are trying to pass a bill which is tantamount to state-sponsored murder, they are putting this anti-smoking bill pretending to care about the health of children! Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?

By the way, this bill is not needed to protect children at all. There are already laws in place to protect children. Cigarettes should not be sold to children anyway. What this ridiculous legislation will do is stop adults from enjoying one of life’s great pleasures. Churchill must be turning in his grave! – © Mark Alexander

MPs Back Plans for Phased Smoking Ban

BBC: MPs have backed plans to make it illegal for anyone currently aged 15 or younger to ever buy cigarettes in the UK.

The idea was originally proposed by Rishi Sunak's Conservative government but was taken forward by Labour after previous legislation ran out of time to pass before July's general election.

The new Tobacco and Vapes bill passed its first Commons hurdle comfortably by 415 votes to 47.

However, some Tory and Lib Dem MPs raised concerns about the impact on civil liberties.

The bill will face further scrutiny from MPs and peers but is likely to become law.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs were given a free vote, meaning they did not have to follow a party line.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman were among 35 Tories who voted against the bill, while 23 supported it.

Seven Liberal Democrats and four Reform UK MPs also opposed the legislation.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said gradually increasing the age people can buy tobacco would create "the first smoke-free generation and eventually a smoke-free nation". » | Becky Morton, Political, Political reporter | Tuesday, November 26, 2024

This ban is an outrage! This impacts on people’s civil liberties. They go on about the cancer risks, but all manner of things can cause cancer: junk food, alcohol, toxic air, etc. And as for causing deaths, cars cause road deaths, and knives, too. Without knives, there’s be no stabbings. Are all these to be banned as well? Smoking can cause cancer, but only between 5 and 10% of heavy smokers contract lung cancer. I am an ex-smoker. I quit coming up to 3 years ago. But smoking was always a great source of pleasure for me. This law, if passed, will one day have to be repealed. When we have a more sensible government, it will be. – © Mark Alexander

What Starmer and ISIS Have in Common

That ridiculous man, Sunak, proposed a generational smoking ban. The even more ridiculous, and certainly more authoritarian, Starmer is determined to follow through on it. I have a suggestion: Instead of banning the smoking of cigarettes, one of life's greatest day-to-day pleasures for many, why don’t we ban Starmer instead? Five years of Starmer at the helm is going to be a great deal more injurious to my health than smoking cigarettes ever could be and certainly more injurious to my health than the inhalation of passive smoke from other smokers’ cigarettes! The very notion of passive smoking is ridiculous and unproven anyway; the notion of passive smoking al fresco is totally and utterly absurd. Only a nincompoop could come up with such a ridiculous concept! — © Mark Alexander