UK Gov confirms ongoing bills in King’s Speech
THE new Labour Government has confirmed the controversial generational tobacco ban bill will continue under its tutelage.
Initially introduced by the Conservatives towards the end of the party’s tenure, Labour has now confirmed it will be continuing to pursue this bill as well as the further restrictions on vaping products as part of the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
As part of the opening of Parliament proceedings, King Charles III 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.”
Further to this, the King also confirmed that Westminster will work to restrict the “advertising of junk food to children”, as well as introduce a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16.
While it comes as little shock that the tobacco ban legislation will go ahead under Labour – both sides of the house were in agreement when the bill was initially introduced by the Conservatives – the recent general election did see the bill temporarily shelved.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was initially passed in April of this year, with 383 votes in favour to 67 against, showing a clear agreement between both sides of the bench.
The initial bill proposed to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone who has been born from 1 January 2009 onwards.
The Scottish Government has also previously confirmed it would introduce this bill in Scotland as well.
The controversial legislation has led many industry bodies to warn UK-wide governments about the potential criminal side effects it could have to retail businesses across the UK as the number of reported crimes continues to rise.
Speaking at the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s crime seminar earlier this year, Rupert Lewis, director of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, said: “The burden of enforcing a phased generational ban will fall squarely on the shoulders of retailers, not consumers, and they will feel the full force of its impact.
“Fast forward a few years, and retailers will have to act as ‘judge and jury’ over which 28 or 29 or 30-year-olds (ever increasing in age) are allowed to buy tobacco or not.”
