Senedd Members have today supported a historic Bill, which will
create Wales' first smoke-free generation.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will cover all four UK nations,
will see all young people born on or after 1 January 2009 unable
to purchase any tobacco products.
The Bill is currently being considered by the House of Lords
after receiving the support of the House of Commons.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister welcomed the Senedd's vote on
the legislative consent motion (LCM), saying the Bill will
protect children and young people from a lifetime of nicotine
addiction.
Ahead of the vote, she met school children and heard a poem they
had written about smoke-free futures. They had also gathered
pledges of support for their vision of a smoke-free generation.
The Welsh Government has led the way in the UK on introducing
smoke-free measures. It has already passed laws to restrict
smoking in outdoor public spaces — including hospital grounds,
school grounds and public playgrounds — to help ensure that
people, especially children, are not exposed to harmful
second-hand smoke.
said: "This is a
historic day for public health in Wales. Despite the real
progress we have made to reduce smoking levels, tobacco continues
to be one of the leading causes of preventable disease and
premature death in Wales.
“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides us with a unique opportunity
to tackle smoking and the growing issue of youth vaping.
“It is an opportunity to comprehensively and significantly
improve public health in Wales and the wider UK."
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Professor Isabel Oliver,
said: "Tobacco addiction kills thousands in Wales every
year and continues to reinforce existing health inequalities.
“This Bill offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to break
that cycle and protect future generations from a product that has
caused immeasurable harm."
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a significant piece of UK
legislation which will introduce new restrictions on tobacco and
vaping across all four nations.
It strengthens protections for young people by introduction
stricter rules around vapes including the advertising of nicotine
and vape products, to prevent them being targeted towards
children and young people.
It will significantly strengthen the tools available to
enforcement officers, particularly through a new licensing scheme
for anyone who wants to sell tobacco or vape products in the
future, helping to enforce the new rules and to take action
against illegal sales.
Trading Standards Wales will be supported with more than £650,000
of Welsh Government funding to implement the measures to tackle
illegal tobacco and vapes in Wales over the next three years,
including the recruitment and training of five apprentices to
assist with enforcement activity.
