Over 12,000 responses so far submitted on government proposals to create first ‘smokefree generation’, less than halfway through consultation period
Over 12,000 responses have been received as part of the government’s consultation on plans to create a smokefree generation and crack down on youth vaping – the most significant public health intervention in a generation.
The Prime Minister recently announced plans to introduce a historic new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. He also set out the government’s concerns about the worrying rise in vaping among children and announced a public consultation on plans to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children.
Bolstering efforts to phase out smoking, £70 million has today been allocated by the government for local stop smoking services and support in every local authority in England. This is more than double the current funding available for these services.
Stop smoking services and support provide one-to-one and group stop smoking sessions, access to accurate information and advice, as well as easy and affordable access to quit aids like skin patches, inhalators, nasal and mouth spray, chewing gum and lozenges.
Someone quitting before turning 30 could add 10 years to their life and, if a smoker can quit smoking for 28 days, they are five times more likely to quit permanently. This new funding will support around 360,000 people to quit smoking.
It will be ring-fenced specifically for stop smoking services and the local allocations have been calculated to ensure local authorities with the highest smoking rates receive additional weighted funding.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
Alongside the final funding allocations, the government has issued guidance to local authorities – in partnership with the Local Government Association.
The guidance highlights how this funding should be used to build capacity in local areas to help more people quit, link smokers to the most effective interventions, and also support existing support schemes like Swap to Stop. The Swap to Stop scheme is the first of its kind in the world and offers a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.
Acknowledging the importance of putting the next generation first and saving lives, on Tuesday 7 November, His Majesty King Charles III set out plans for the government to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in this parliamentary session.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said:
The live public consultation – which closes on Wednesday 6 December – also details proposals to prevent underage and illicit sales of tobacco and vapes, with plans to introduce on the spot fines for underage sales. The consultation is open to anyone, of any age, in the UK to share their experiences and opinions and help shape future policy on vaping and smoking.
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, last week visited Salford City Council to meet local councillors, public health leaders, and Trading Standards officers where he discussed work being carried out in the region to seize illicit vapes. He was also shown two shipping containers full of seized products.
Illicit vapes can contain unknown ingredients, higher levels of nicotine, and are often made easily available to children. Over two million illicit vapes were seized across England by Trading Standards from 2022 to 2023.
Earlier this year the Prime Minister also announced £30 million to further support agencies such as local trading standards, HMRC and Border Force to take action to stop underage sales and tackle the import of illicit tobacco and vaping products at the border.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said:
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said:
Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
Proposals being consulted on include:
ENDS