Assembly members support NI’s inclusion in Tobacco and Vapes Bill
NI Assembly members have voted in support of Northern Ireland’s inclusion in the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
A plenary debate on the Legislative Consent Motion on the Bill was held after it was published in December. The 14-page LMC included evidence from the Institute of Public Health (IPC) that e-cigarettes act as a gateway to tobacco smoking amongst young people.
“The Institute of Public Health undertook a rapid review of evidence on behalf of the Department of Health, and findings point to reliable evidence that vaping does act as a gateway to tobacco smoking amongst young people. This substantiates the view that measures to address the appeal of these products to children are justified,” reads the LMC document.
The Bill aims to create a smoke-free generation by making it an offence for anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 to be sold tobacco products and ban the sale of non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine products to under 18s. It also provides powers for the extension of smoke-free places. In the longer term the Bill will introduce retail licensing provisions.
Welcoming the Assembly’s support for NI’s inclusion in the Bill, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said it was a landmark step which provides an opportunity to reduce preventable deaths and health inequalities across Northern Ireland and protect our children, young people and future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction.
However, objections to the Bill have come from the tobacco and vaping sector, with criticisms for some of the legislation.
UKVIA Director John Dunne said while the organisation fully supports the need to tackle youth sales, it was necessary not to ignore those adult smokers who turn to vapes in a bid to stop smoking.
“There is absolutely no reason why adult smokers cannot have easy access to the very best quit smoking tool every invented, while minors also get the protection they need. Both can happily work hand-in-hand,” he told NR.
Meanwhile, the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association said the generational ban “lacks common sense” while also completely disregarding the unintended consequences.
“If the government is committed to legislate, there is a more effective alternative policy. That is raising the age of purchase from 18 to 21. It would be much more practical, manageable and straightforward for retailers to enforce, than a generational ban, which would be complicated, impractical, unworkable and unenforceable,” said Rupert Lewis, Director at TMA.
However, Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, professor Sir Michael McBride said that they needed to “stop the deliberate addiction of two-thirds of adult smokers who begin smoking before the age of 18”.
“There will be no restrictions on people who can already legally smoke,” he added. “But the robust measures in this Bill will seek to address the appeal of vapes to children and young people and over time will break the cycle of addiction and harm.”
