Action on Smoking Health (UK)

Lord Pannick makes a compelling case for why the smokefree generation is necessary to protect future generations from a uniquely harmful product 🚭

Lord Young of Cookham highlighted the strong conservative and cross-party support for the smokefree generation during Report stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 🏛️🚭

Baroness Northover makes a strong argument for why tobacco companies should be required to publish their sales data.

This would help local authorities, Trading Standards and public health agencies target resources effectively.

Earl Russell @earlrussell.bsky.social made an excellent case for a polluter pays levy during Report stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The levy could raise up to £700 million a year, placing the cost on the tobacco industry, not consumers. 💰

Fantastic to hear Earl Howe, Conservative co-lead on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, explain why he supports a smokefree generation during Report stage, showing the strong cross-party support for the Bill 🏛️🚭

📢 Don't miss our latest blog from our CE
@hazelcheeseman.bsky.social dissecting the debate from the second day of Report stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

🎉 Report stage is now complete, and Third Reading will take place on Monday 9th March.

🔗Read Here: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

Celebrating 20 Years Since Parliament Voted to Introduce Indoor Smokefree Legislation - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read Sharon Hodgson MP's contribution to our 'Celebrating 20 years since Parliament voted to introduce indoor smokefree legislation' blog here: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

Congratulations to Sharon Hodgson MP @sharonhodgsonmp.bsky.social on being appointed as the Minister for Public Health and Prevention.

We look forward to working together towards a smokefree future.

📢 The Liberal Democrats will put forward an amendment to make pavement licenses (introduced during the pandemic to expand outdoor seating) automatically smokefree to ensure that people can enjoy outdoor seating without exposure to second-hand smoke.

🚭 There will also be a push for the Government to publish a roadmap to a smokefree country that will ensure that people who currently smoke are not forgotten as we move forward with the smokefree generation.

🏛️Peers will resume Report stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill today. Here’s what to look out for in the debate 👀

🗣️Peers will discuss the details of the new licensing scheme for tobacco and vapes that will aid enforcement and protect responsible retailers.

Heated tobacco ads are everywhere – how are tobacco companies getting away with it? - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read more on this in our blog: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

Major demand on heated tobacco devices as MP calls for supermarket advert ban The Government is facing calls to close a loophole to stop heated tobacco products - which heat up tobacco instead of burning it like a cigarette - being advertised in supermarkets

🚨 Dr Beccy Cooper @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social and Baroness Northover are right to call out this advertising and urge the Government to make it clear in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that this is illegal.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

🤔Despite the Government writing to supermarkets to confirm it’s against the law, some are still advertising heated tobacco products.

A fond farewell to Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton @ashleydaltonmp.bsky.social as she steps down from her Ministerial role.

Thank you for your work steering the Tobacco & Vapes Bill through Parliament - the Bill is a gift to future generations, protecting them from the harms of tobacco.

Thank you to Baroness Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social for highlighting how influencers like Andrew Tate are driving increased cigar usage among young people.

The Government were right to stand up to industry pressure and keep cigars covered by the Tobacco & Vapes Bill.

At the ASH office we were playing ‘tobacco tactics’ bingo spotting the usual industry arguments during the Report Stage debate for the Tobacco & Vapes Bill. We got a full house!

We were pleased to see the Government standing up to these arguments and resisting industry pressure to weaken the Bill.

Thank you to the amazing Baroness Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social for recognising the Mental Health Partnership! The government creating an exemption to the vape vending machine ban for mental health settings is a real campaign success story. We are so grateful for your help.

Report Stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill: What happened! - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

📢 Don't miss our CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social's blog breaking down what happened last night at Report Stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the House of Lords.

📖Read here: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

The House of Lords has just voted for the Smokefree Generation 🎉

246 peers rejected replacing it with an age of sale of 21, versus just 78 in favour.

A fantastic result.

ASH is excited to be in Parliament today for the first Report stage debate of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the House of Lords. 👏
The debate will kick off with the landmark #SmokefreeGeneration policy 🚭

How to deliver on the shift from sickness to prevention The public health grant funds vital preventive services and should be central to the aspirations set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. However, despite the planned shift to prevention, the grant fund fo...

2️⃣ In this blog, Chad Byworth from the @bma.org.uk discusses how vital the public health grant is in relation to the Government’s shift to prevention.

www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

Health tech good news and NHS prescribing puppies? YouTube video by Prevention is the new cure

🔗Links of the week🔗

1️⃣ In this episode of the Prevention is the New Cure podcast, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell speak with Sarah Woolnough, CE of @thekingsfund.bsky.social about whether the UK needs to shift towards long-term health investment.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6jF...

Number of years of likely good health in UK falls to new low There is a “clear geographical divide” between local areas with the highest and lowest healthy life expectancy.

🗞️ "Today’s figures show that where you live determines how many years you spend in good health – and that gap isn’t closing." @jamie-ohalloran.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com 👇 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Expanding smokefree places popular as Government launches consultation - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read ASH’s response here: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

Last week the Government launched a consultation on expanding smokefree legislation to protect the public from the harms of second-hand smoke.

The consultation covers smoking, vaping and heated tobacco products. Here’s what the Government proposes 👇

Southampton hospital helps 4,000 patients stop smoking A tobacco dependency team offers free treatment to hospital inpatients who smoke to help them quit.

You can read the article here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fantastic to see the work of University Hospital Southampton’s tobacco dependency team recognised for the support they offer to people who smoke to quit.

ASH estimates that smoking costs the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region £1.2bn a year, highlighting why this work is so important.

Wishing everyone who celebrates a happy and peaceful Ramadan

🚭20 years on, we are on the cusp of another historic moment, as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves through Parliament. The Bill will introduce a smokefree generation, protecting all future generations from the harms caused by tobacco.