MPs are being encouraged to support a groundbreaking bill that aims to make the UK the first country to eradicate smoking, as alarming figures predict nearly 300,000 Britons could develop smoking-related cancers in the next five years.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, set for its second reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday, proposes gradually raising the legal age to purchase tobacco, effectively banning smoking for anyone born after 1 January 2009.
Cancer Research UK has labelled the bill a “historic opportunity” to save lives and reduce pressure on the NHS, urging MPs to act decisively.
The charity highlighted the devastating impact of smoking, which remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK, as approximately 350 young people start smoking every day.
Analysis published by Cancer Research UK estimates that 296,661 new cancer cases could occur by 2029 if current trends persist.
This includes 243,045 cases in England, 29,365 in Scotland, 15,161 in Wales, and 9,090 in Northern Ireland. Secondhand smoke could also lead to nearly 2,850 cases of cancer among non-smokers.
“Smoking kills up to two-thirds of its users,” said Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK. “Raising the age of sale for tobacco and funding cessation services could protect countless individuals from a lifetime of addiction and disease.”
The Office for National Statistics reports that smoking rates in the UK have dropped to 11.9% in 2023, the lowest since records began in 2011.
Despite this progress, research shows around 350 adults aged 18 to 25 take up smoking daily, with 35,000 new smokers emerging since the King’s Speech in July.
The bill, introduced earlier this month, also proposes measures to curb vaping among young people, including restrictions on advertising, flavours, displays, and packaging. It may also ban smoking and vaping in playgrounds and outside schools.
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has championed the initiative, emphasising its potential to reduce stillbirths, childhood asthma, cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.
“This bill could be one of the most impactful public health measures of our time,” Walker added. “The lives of thousands are now in the hands of our politicians. We urge MPs to vote for a future free from the harms of tobacco.”
The proposed legislation represents a pivotal moment in the UK’s public health journey, with far-reaching implications for future generations.
