The age-old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been more relevant than in today's debate on a generational smoking ban. As a Conservative, I am committed to upholding traditional values and principles, among them the idea that government intervention should be minimal. However, when the health and well-being of our citizens, particularly our youth, is at stake, it becomes our moral imperative to step in and take decisive action. This is an outlier. You will not ever see me advocate for restricting and banning fast food, for example. I suspect the same could not be said for many Labour MPs. In fact, my local Labour council have just unveiled a ‘plan’ to stop entrepreneurs opening new takeaways. Madness.
However, when it comes to smoking, the evidence is irrefutable. Smoking remains the UK’s leading cause of preventable deaths. The harrowing images on cigarette packs, the warnings from healthcare professionals, and the tragic tales from families who've lost loved ones to smoking-related diseases make a compelling case. But the question remains how do we most effectively confront this? As Brits, we don’t like banning things. We are freedom loving people but when it comes to the well-being of our children, nothing matters more.
A generational smoking ban offers a balanced, phased approach. By banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2009, we can ensure that future generations grow up as a smokefree generation. I started smoking at the age of just eleven, and after a number of failed attempts I finally managed to quit. If this generational ban had been in place when I was a lad, I know the likelihood of me ever touching a cigarette would have been drastically reduced.
However, while we must tackle the issue of cigarette smoking head-on, it is essential to distinguish between these and less harmful tobacco products like vapes and heated tobacco. As it stands, the UK’s generational ban would be going further than New Zealand by including products like heated tobacco. I think a discussion around this would be sensible. We are very close to securing a bold long-term public health policy for a brighter future, but the devil is in the detail and we need to get it right.
If we include less harmful alternatives like heated tobacco in the ban, it will deter current users who have made the difficult and brave leap to better their health by quitting smoking cigarettes. It removes the fire break for those from the next generation who might slip through the net and pursue smoking. Pragmatically, for those determined to use tobacco it is much less harmful for them to legally access heated tobacco rather than illegally smoke cigarettes.
It is absolutely essential we close the entrance door to smoking but if we close the exit too, we will trap millions of smokers on cigarettes who will be unable to quit using less harmful alternatives.
That said, we must remain vigilant. While endorsing the use of less harmful alternatives, I believe the UK must also invest in research to keep abreast of the long-term effects of these products. Education and awareness campaigns should also be ramped up, ensuring that citizens are making informed choices.
To my fellow MPs, I urge you to consider the benefits of a generational smoking ban. It provides a roadmap to a healthier UK. By adopting a nuanced stance and recognising the potential of less harmful tobacco products, we can forge a path to a brighter, healthier future for our nation, ensuring that the tragedies of the past are not repeated in the years to come.
