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Government backs Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Cigarettes release thousands of different harmful chemicals when they burn, and many components of tobacco are poisonous. For those with CF, the mucus in the lungs is thicker and stickier than in someone without CF. This makes it difficult to clear and easier for bacteria to get stuck and cause an infection, and repeated lung infections can lead to lung damage. Though the law will not affect people who are allowed to buy cigarettes now, it will increase the legal age for cigarette sales, which is currently 18 by one year. This means people born in or after 2009 will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes. They aim to put this in force by 2027.
We’re pleased to see the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will protect future generations from the dangers of smoking, has passed its first hurdle. Smoking and vaping pose an additional risk for those with long-term health conditions, including cystic fibrosis so this is a huge step forward.
David Ramsden, CEO Cystic Fibrosis Trust
We’re also calling on the Government to urgently undertake research into the long- and short-term effects of using vapes, particularly for those with lung conditions like CF.
Smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths annually and is the UK’s single biggest preventable killer. Four in five smokers start before the age of 20 and remain addicted for the rest of their lives despite most smokers having tried to quit.
The Government previously announced a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in England which aims to take place in April 2025, and also to further tax, and restrict the flavours and marketing of vapes.
You can read our comment from when this was announced here
You can read more about vaping and cystic fibrosis here
Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said: "Smoking is the number one preventable cause of disability, ill health and death in this country. Once it becomes a habit, its addictive nature means that it is extremely difficult to stop.
“Because the case against these harmful products is so strong, it's not surprising that the majority of the British public—including those who smoke and those who sell tobacco—support plans to protect the next generation from the misery of smoking.
"Our plan will save lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and ensure a brighter future for our children."
Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “Today’s [16 April] vote is a critical step towards the UK becoming a world leader in tobacco control. By voting in favour of the age of sale legislation, MPs will be putting us on the right side of history, and helping to create the first ever smokefree generation. Smoking is still the leading cause of cancer in the UK. Now is the time to take action, end cancers caused by smoking and save lives.”
The bill will now need to go through to the next stage of the process before a final vote in the House of Lords is expected in mid-June.