NI Assembly to deliberate on legislative proposals on Tobacco & Vapes Bill
The Northern Ireland Assembly will debate on legislative proposals on limiting access to tobacco and vape products next month.
The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA has tabled a plenary debate on the Legislative Consent Motion on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, to consider endorsing the principle of Northern Ireland’s inclusion in the UK Bill.
On Tuesday 4th February, the Assembly will consider the proposals to introduce a generational smoking ban across the UK, and stop vapes and other nicotine products being branded and advertised to appeal to children and young people.
There is some resistance to the Bill, with tobacco and vapes companies and retailers fearing it will only serve to fuel illicit trade.
Retailers are also concerned that the increased need to conduct age verification will also lead to an rise in violent, abusive and threatening behaviour towards themselves and their staff, who will be left facing consumers.
Published in December, the 14-page Legislative Consent Motion (LMC) includes evidence from IPH that e-cigarettes act as a gateway to tobacco smoking amongst young people.
‘If the government is committed to legislate, there is a more effective alternative policy’
“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.
However, 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 ever evented, 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.
