A MAJOR crackdown on smokers and vapers is set to be revived by the new Government, alongside a ban on energy drink sales.
Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke made a comeback in today’s King’s Speech.
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The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was set aside when Parliament shut down for the general election but Sir Keir Starmer decided to reintroduce it.
The Bill aims to stop anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 from ever buying cigarettes, creating a smoke-free generation.
It also targets vape marketing, paving the way for reforms to vaping sales and their branding, cutting down on flashy packaging that appeal to young people, to help stop kids getting hooked.
Kid-friendly flavours like bubble gum and candy floss also face curbs, and the Bill will also restrict the packaging and display of other products like tobacco pouches, that can entice children to smoke.
King Charles said: “A Bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes.”
The Bill will also beef up enforcement, letting Trading Standards crack down faster on illegal sales – stopping shops from selling tobacco and vapes to kids by handing out on-the-spot fines.
In major King’s Speech announcements:
Smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer globally and is linked to at least 16 different types of the disease, including lung, bladder and pancreatic cancer – one of the deadliest forms.
Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty said: “A smoke free country would prevent disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.
“Smoking causes harm across the life course from stillbirth, asthma in children, cancer, strokes, heart attacks and dementia.
“Most smokers wish they had never started. Secondhand smoke causes harm, including to vulnerable people.
“The Bill to create a smoke-free country in the King’s Speech would be a major step forward in public health.”
ENERGY DRINKS BAN
The King also said his ministers will legislate to “restrict advertising of junk food to children along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children”.
It is understood this will be done through secondary legislation.
Under the plans, drinks containing more than 150mg (0.03 teaspoons) of caffeine per litre (a pint and three-quarters) would be banned from sale, in retail outlets and online, to under-16s.
Drinks such as Coca-Cola and bottled Lucozade fall under the limit.
But a 500ml can of Monster Energy contains 160mg – equivalent to more than three shots of espresso or five cans of Coca-Cola.
Asked why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees during the campaign, Sir Keir said: “Because this is aimed at children and the sort of drinks that at the moment, the energy drinks, that they are drinking.
“I mean Monster, I think, is the number one.
“Just to give you a sense of that – the caffeine in that is the equivalent of several espressos, which is why it’s having such an effect on children’s behaviour.
“Talk to anyone who’s in a school and they’ll tell you what the problem is.”
The World Health Organization has branded energy drinks a “danger to public health”.
Some are loaded with a staggering 21 teaspoons of sugar per can, and can contain the same amount of caffeine as three cups of coffee.
Various scientific studies have found the drinks increase the risk of severe health conditions affecting the heart, nervous system, liver and kidneys, as well as mental health conditions and suicidal thoughts.
They can disrupt sleep, contribute to obesity, raise blood pressure and cause conditions like cardiac arrhythmia, as well as, in rare cases spontaneous coronary artery dissection, when a tear appears in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the heart.
Leading experts welcome health crackdown
AS King Charles outlined the new Government’s plans, leading health charities and experts welcomed the crackdown.
Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy, Dr Ian Walker, said: “The Government’s commitment to introduce new legislation on smoking will have a hugely positive impact on the nation’s health.
“Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in the UK and is responsible for 160 cancer cases per day.
“By raising the age of sale for tobacco products, the government will help to prevent cancer, relieve pressures on the NHS and build a healthier future.”
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Today’s announcement puts us in pole position to be the first country in the world to end smoking.
“The measures announced today will play a major role in helping the Government achieve its ambition to halve the difference in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions, and deliver productivity growth in every part of the country.”
Mr Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England said: “Smoking remains the largest cause of cancer so we strongly welcome the reintroduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the King’s Speech.
“The Bill has the potential to save many lives and reduce the need for surgery.”
Professor Steve Turner, RCPCH president said: “This is a major milestone towards realising the Government’s ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children in our history.
“Stopping children and young people from starting to smoke will decrease their chance of developing preventable disease later in life.
“As paediatricians, we work day in and day out to support children’s health; we are clear that children should not become addicted to nicotine and youth vaping must be tackled.”
Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: “Phasing out the sale of tobacco will be a major step in protecting the public’s mental health and could do more to benefit the physical and mental health of psychiatric patients than any other single measure.
“Smoking increases your risk of poor mental health and you are much more likely to start smoking and to become heavily addicted if you already have a mental health condition.
“The more addicted you are, the harder it is to quit, even though successful quitting is associated with reduced levels of anxiety and depression.”
