Britain’s ban on disposable vapes is likely to become law after a lack of objections
Plans to ban disposable vapes and phase out the sale of tobacco to people of all ages in Britain appear likely to be passed into law with minimal fuss, as only a handful of Conservative MPs have objected to the proposals.
Both measures will be voted on in Parliament, Downing Street confirmed. Although Conservative MPs will get a free vote on the smoking ban, it has yet to be decided whether this will also happen for vapes.
The ban on disposable vapes, along with measures to combat the sale of some child-friendly fruit-flavored varieties and restrictions on packaging and displays in stores, would come into effect through a combination of bill and secondary legislation late this year or early 2025.
The already announced ban on the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 will also be introduced into law, possibly in the same bill as the bill on vaping.
Although Labor is likely to support both measures, meaning they are guaranteed to pass, Sunak may have expected a significant backlash from libertarian-leaning Tory MPs. However, only Liz Truss publicly denounced the plans, calling the date-based tobacco ban “very unconservative” and an extension of the “nanny state”.
Some other Tory MPs are likely to vote against it in Parliament but have said they do not intend to make a big fuss about it.
In a broadcast segment during a visit on Monday, Sunak replied: “I don’t think there is anything unconservative about looking after the health of our children.
“I respect that some people will disagree with me on this, but I think this is the right long-term strategy for our country. Smoking is the cause of one in four cancer deaths. It is responsible for every minute of hospitalization.”
He added: “On smoking, there is a long tradition in parliament that these are free votes, not party political. People will have their own opinion about that, it’s the same as in the past.”
A more meaningful fight could come from the well-organized vaping industry, much of which has opposed the ban on disposable vapes – which is largely based on concerns that the often cheap and colorful products are tempting to children and young people, as well as the impact on the environment. .
Shares of vaping companies fell significantly on Monday, with trade groups saying the ban would impact adults trying to use vaping to quit smoking.
In contrast, the plan was welcomed by the National Association of Headteachers, which said disposable vapes had helped “to normalize vaping for some young people”, and by environmental groups.
Health Minister Victoria Atkins said ministers would discuss the best way to implement the changes, including ensuring companies do not try to circumvent the ban by attaching charging points to disposable vapes.
“We will be listening very carefully to suggestions that big tobacco and other vaping companies will somehow find a way around this,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The motivation here is to ensure that children and young people are not drawn into this addiction to nicotine.”