We are delighted that the landmark bill to restrict the sale of tobacco products has received Royal Assent. This will create a Smokefree Generation where no one born in or after 2009 will ever be legally sold tobacco products.
The bill will also close a number of legislative loopholes and give the government new powers regarding tobacco product licensing and vape product regulations.
Professor Richard Russell, BTS Chair, says:
“Royal Assent of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a landmark moment for public health and a major step towards a smoke-free future for the United Kingdom and the World. The British Thoracic Society strongly welcomes this legislation as a bold and necessary response to the ongoing harms caused by tobacco and the rising threat of vaping among young people.
As respiratory clinicians, we see firsthand the devastating impact of smoking on lung health every day. This bill represents a decisive shift towards prevention, protecting future generations from addiction, reducing avoidable disease, and ultimately saving lives.”
We look forward to seeing the impact of the bill and remain committed to helping people who are still smoking to quit. You can find all our tobacco dependency resources in our programme section, which provides useful guides and webinar recordings to help you support your patients on their smokefree journey.