Trading Standards professionals voice support for generational tobacco ban

New research from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has indicated that Trading Standards officers overwhelmingly support the proposed smokefree generation policy.

A survey of local authority Trading Standards professionals has found that 80 per cent of respondents support the government’s plan to stamp out smoking in a generation, the CTSI said.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is being laid today, aims to prohibit the sale of tobacco to people born after 1 January 2009, effectively ensuring they will not legally have access to tobacco in their lifetime. There would be an annual increase in the legal age of sale by one year every year from 2027 which will prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to tobacco.

“Effective enforcement of age restrictions will be pivotal to the success of the government’s proposal, and the responsibility falls on Trading Standards to enforce these. There is resounding support from the profession for the proposed smokefree generation policy who, as the boots on the ground, will have to ensure it is effectively implemented,” John Herriman, CTSI chief executive, said.

 “The eradication of smoking in the next generation will be an incredibly positive change to public health with smoking being the UK’s most preventable killer. Enforcing the new age restriction will present its own new challenges, but trading standards welcomes the increased protections it will provide.”

Under the proposed legislation, there will also be new powers to change how vapes are displayed in shops, restrict vape flavours and packaging intentionally marketed at children to combat the rise in youth vaping.

CTSI lead officer for vaping, Kate Pike, said: “It is great news that Trading Standards officers so strongly support the proposal to phase out smoking. We look forward to helping retailers introduce the changes and as always, we will take action against the minority who flout the law. We welcome this opportunity to help protect our communities from the harms of tobacco.”