The Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT) is celebrating the UK Government’s landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was introduced with a four nations approach on 5 November 2024, having received Royal Assent to become law this week (Wednesday 29 April).
The new law means that from 1 January 2027 it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. It will also bring in other major public health driven measures such as a ban on the sale of nicotine pouches to under 18s and outlaw the advertising and sponsorship of vapes and other recreational nicotine products.
The Scottish Coalition On Tobacco, an alliance of 19 health advocacy charities, royal colleges, pharmacy and medical associations convened by ASH Scotland, is welcoming the new law as a major step towards Scotland becoming a tobacco-free nation.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland and Chair of SCOT, said: “With tobacco continuing to be the biggest preventable killer of people in Scotland, causing nearly 9,000 deaths each year, we are delighted that strong measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Act will become reality as they can be truly transformative and must be implemented without delay.
“Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air, and this is a significant step towards eradicating the damage being inflicted by profit-centred multi-national corporations on people’s lives, especially in our poorest communities, and tackling the advertising and promotions of addictive, heath harming recreational nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches.”
Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “This is a true landmark moment for public health.
“For everyone who has lost someone to a smoking related heart attack or stroke, for every clinician who has seen the toll of tobacco at the bedside, and for every young person who will now grow up free from the harms of smoking – we celebrate this historic achievement that will save lives for generations to come.”
Professor Steve Turner, President of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Act has the exact type of bold ambition and long‑term thinking that makes meaningful change for children and young people. This will help to improve child health outcomes and narrow the unacceptable health inequalities gap.
“Paediatricians are thrilled to have supported this important piece of legislation, which will reduce the unacceptable burden that tobacco and vaping places on today’s youth, and also protect future generations from the harms of nicotine addiction. I celebrate this landmark moment for child health. This is a clear signal that the wellbeing of children and young people can and should come first.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “This landmark legislation means a smoke free future across the UK and the tobacco industry will no longer be able to wreak havoc on the lungs of the next generation. The Act also builds on restrictions concerning where vapes, cigarettes, and heated tobacco products can be used which we welcome.
“The next Scottish Government needs to outline how the bill will be implemented. It must also make sure existing smokers aren’t left behind by providing essential smoking cessation support, especially in areas of deprivation where smoking rates are highest. We are looking forward to working with new MSPs to go further to protect public health and hold the tobacco industry to account.”
Adam Osprey, Head of Policy at Community Pharmacy Scotland, said: “Community pharmacy teams contribute to the goal of a smoke-free Scotland by supporting tens of thousands of quit attempts each year, and have done for over 15 years.
“These teams have been sharing in more recent times their concern over the changing patterns in nicotine use, whether that be the rise in popularity of vapes and pouches. On behalf of our members, we are delighted that the Bill has passed and received Royal Assent, as its bold commitments to action provide the preventative measures that are required to complement the well-established cessation offering in Scotland”.
Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: “We are extremely pleased that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which we supported consistently from the beginning of this process – has now received Royal Assent.
“This truly is a historic moment in the UK which offers the opportunity for all future generations of young people to be protected from the harms of smoking as we strive for a smoke-free society. The stricter regulation of vapes, especially in relation to young people, is also important.
“As we celebrate this major milestone in public health policy and the progress that has been made over the last few decades, we also remember that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK and we will continue to work with others to ensure that all existing smokers are regularly offered and provided with access to the highest quality cessation support and that this support is backed up with appropriate investment.”
