North Yorkshire health bosses welcome plans to cut smoking
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been introduced into the House of Commons this week
Health leaders in Humber and North Yorkshire are among those who say they are “delighted” to see the Tobacco and Vapes Bill back in front of MPs.
The bill was introduced into the House of Commons this week.
If it becomes law, the local NHS and local councils say it will dramatically reduce smoking rates by prohibiting the sale of tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes) to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. This ensures anyone under 15 in 2024 will never legally purchase tobacco, even as adults.
The new bill goes further than the last with:
Further powers to regulate the design of vapes
Ban on vape advertising and sponsorship
Powers to create a retail licensing regime for the sale of tobacco and vapes
Powers to extend smokefree legislation to further outdoor areas
Powers to prohibit vaping in smokefree places
Tobacco is responsible for 2,541 premature deaths each year in the region – that’s seven lives lost every single day – along with 18,494 hospital admissions to treat smoking related illnesses.
Scott Crosby, Associate Director for the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control says the bill will have a significant impact across the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) region, which covers Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, York, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire; areas which have some of the highest rates of smoking in the UK, compared to national averages.
“I am thrilled the bill has been reinstated and is progressing at pace,” he added. “Since its inception, the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control has been steadfastly supportive, recognising that safeguarding our children from this harm is an investment in our nation’s future.
“Smoking is not a matter of free choice. Addiction deprives people of choice: two in three people who try one cigarette go on to become daily smokers, most of whom will regret ever starting.
“The inclusion of powers to extend smokefree legislation to outdoor places in the bill is a welcome addition. It’s our duty to protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke, therefore we encourage everyone to take part in the public consultation to ensure the bill is robust and paves the way to a smokefree future.”