The smoke-free generation policy: policy analysis

Abstract

This article discusses how effective the smoking policies that are being introduced are, whether more is action needed, and who is being most impacted. Through this article Howell aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on smoking prevention and control, and to shield future generations from adverse health effects.

A bill is going through parliament progressively to ban the sale of tobacco products in England and Wales, and recently, the government has announced it will take steps to ban the sale of disposable vapes. This would cut vaping among young people; however, does this policy go far enough?

The UK government aims to achieve a smoke-free country by 2030. Since 2019, the government has been expressing an intention to ban cigarettes, but this marks the first detailed policy to reach that goal. A bill to this effect was introduced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak under the Conservative government. Keir Starmer’s Labour administration has pledged to re-introduce a similar bill in parliament. ¹ If passed into law, it would raise the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products by one year, every year. As a result, individuals born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to legally purchase tobacco in England, even in adulthood – a strategy referred to as ‘stopping the start’. ² This preventive approach is important, as data indicate that 80% of lifetime smokers in the United Kingdom began between the ages of 10 and 20 years, with most adult smokers having their first cigarette or developing a nicotine addiction by the age of 18. Health Secretary Steve Barclay has emphasised the devastating impact of smoking: ‘Smoking kills, places a huge burden on the NHS, and costs the economy billions every year in lost productivity’. ³ Research supports these claims, with smoking responsible for 72,500–82,500 deaths annually in the United Kingdom. It costs the NHS an estimated £3 billion a year, while the wider economy loses over £17 billion in productivity. ⁴ In addition, smoking negatively affects non-smokers, contributing to higher pollution levels, secondhand smoke exposure, and birth defects – all directly linked to smoking.

In addition, the Labour government has announced plans to ban disposable vapes by 1 June 2025, driven by concerns over their high usage among young people. The Minister has expressed worry about the appeal of disposable vapes to youth, particularly due to their bright packaging and enticing flavours. While e-cigarettes are often marketed as a smoking cessation tool and a healthier alternative, this ban specifically aims to shield children by eliminating the supply of inexpensive disposable vapes. Data show that disposable vapes are particularly popular among younger demographics. In 2023, approximately 69% of vapers aged 11–17 years in Great Britain used disposable vapes, a significant rise from 7.7% in 2021. ⁵ With this measure, the government hopes to reduce vaping among young people who are not using it as a means to quit smoking, but rather as a recreational habit.

There are concerns that limiting regulations to disposable vapes may not fully address the broader issues surrounding vaping and smoking. Evidence increasingly shows that vaping is not harmless, with studies pointing to adverse health effects, such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. ⁶ The growing popularity of vaping among individuals who have never smoked is also alarming; according to The Lancet Public Health, the number of non-smoking vapers rose dramatically from 133,000 in 2021 to over 1 million in 2024. ⁷

In addition, there are concerns that vaping may act as a gateway to smoking, with studies suggesting non-smokers who use e-cigarettes are nearly three times more likely to start smoking. ⁸ However, studies on this issue have produced conflicting results, with some suggesting the effect is negligible. ⁹ In conclusion, the decision to ban disposable vapes is a prudent one, as it could yield significant social benefits. The government has correctly identified vaping as a potential risk to youth, and by targeting disposable vapes, it preserves access to more reliable vaping products primarily used by those trying to quit smoking. Considering that the NHS regards vaping as an effective smoking cessation tool and it is currently the most popular method for quitting, this approach is likely to be more beneficial for society than harmful.