Issue - meetings
Report back on Government Consultation "Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping"
Meeting: 02/05/2024 - Health and Wellbeing Board (Item 68)
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Cathy McMahon (Public Health Development and Commissioning Manager) to give an update on the Government consultation “Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping”.
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Minutes:
Cathy McMahon (Public Health Development and Commissioning Manager) and Ruth Sampson (Health Improvement Officer) introduced the report and drew attention to the following:
1. The Government’s Smoke Free Generation consultation closed on 6 December 2023.
2. There were over 25,000 responses with the majority in support of the proposal to create a smoke free generation.
3. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products as well as restricting the use of vaping, particularly around children.
4. There would be additional measures to support enforcement.
5. The Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 16th April 2024. 383 MPs voted for the Bill.
6. The Government aimed to bring in additional legislation to ban disposable vapes from April 2025.
Board Members raised the following comments:
1. In response to a question about communications, it was confirmed there would be national, regional and local comms on the proposed legislation.
2. There would be a strong message that vaping was a tool to support people in giving up smoking.
3. It was noted that there would be additional funding for enforcement agencies but there may need to be a further discussion if more needed to be done at the local level.
4. Communications plans needed to involve schools/settings to ensure the right messages were reaching young people around vaping. It was noted that this was a sensitive issue as children may have parents using vapes as a way to give up smoking.
5. Sue Poole undertook to share work that Healthwatch was carrying out with young people on this issue.
The Board RESOLVED to
Note the contents of the report and consider how agencies/members can support the aim of achieving a smoke free generation, a reduction in youth vaping and supporting smokers to quit.
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