Briefing: “Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping”

A comprehensive briefing on the recently launched UK-wide Government consultation “Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping”, aimed at curbing youth smoking and vaping.

It is of utmost importance for Directors of Public Health and Council Leaders in London to take swift and decisive action to support and participate.

The story so far: A briefing for London

Briefing: addressing concerns surrounding vaping products and young people, with a focus on disposable vapes. 

Your consultation toolkit

We have pulled together and produced some useful items to make this easier:

• A Smokefree Generation Briefing document for London, to read and share: what has been announced, what action is needed, what your organisation can do
• Draft Council Motion: Creating a Smokefree Future and Smokefree Generation in your Borough
• Outline responses to the consultation questions – produced by our partners ASH and Fresh
• ADPH Draft Consultation questions – produced by our partners at ADPH
• Template letter to your MP (ASH)
• A social media toolkit with pre-written posts and graphics to raise awareness of the consultation within the general public in your borough

The case for action

Most smokers start during their teenage years, with 83% becoming addicted before the age of 20. At the same time, the number of teenagers experimenting with nicotine vaping is increasing. In a recent YouGov poll, 71% of London adults said they would support raising the legal age of smoking by one year, each year. This consultation is an opportunity to help cement action to stop the start of smoking and curbing youth vaping.

We also need to ensure that adult smokers have access to safer alternatives like nicotine vaping to reduce tobacco-related health issues and premature deaths.

Download our Consultation Briefing for London which contains key statistics and actions

The consultation includes several key proposals:

• Making it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products
• Restricting the flavours and descriptions of vapes so that vape flavours are no longer targeted at children – we want to ensure this is done in a way that continues to support adult smokers to switch
• Regulating point of sale displays in retail outlets so that vapes are kept out of sight from children and away from products that appeal to them, such as sweets
• Regulating vape packaging and product presentation, ensuring that neither the device nor its packaging is targeted to children
• Considering restricting the sale of disposable vapes, which are clearly linked to the rise in vaping in children. These products are not only attractive to children but also incredibly harmful to the environment
• Exploring further restrictions for non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine consumer products such as nicotine pouches
• Exploring whether increasing the price of vapes will reduce the number of young people using them
• Introducing new powers for local authorities to issue on-the-spot fines (Fixed Penalty Notices) to enforce age of sale legislation of tobacco products and vapes

Over to you

In conclusion, the London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London urge you to act promptly to support and take part in the government’s youth smoking and vaping consultation.

There is global support from World Health Organisation (WHO) to reduce the demand and supply of tobacco. This has been published as an international treaty – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Article 3 of the WHO FCTC states that a objective of the treaty is to “protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the Parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke”.

Your participation and leadership are indispensable in the fight against youth smoking and vaping, to ultimately create a healthier and smoke-free generation.