Senedd backs tobacco ban for 'smoke-free generation'

Senedd members have backed UK government plans to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009.

The UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also restrict the advertising and sale of vapes and review e-cigarette packaging.

Health minister Sarah Murphy called the legislation a "unique opportunity" to tackle "a leading cause of disease and premature death in Wales".

Members of the Senedd (MSs) passed a legislative consent motion (LCM), meaning they agree to Westminster passing a law affecting something the Welsh Parliament is responsible for.

Public Health Wales analysis last year, external found that more than one in ten deaths amongst over 35s every year between 2020 and 2022 were due to smoking.

A phased smoking ban was originally proposed by Rishi Sunak's UK Conservative government and taken forward by the Labour administration after its 2024 election win.

Conservative Senedd health committee chair Peter Fox told the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday that he welcomed the proposals, expressing concern children were starting secondary school education "already addicted to vaping".

Plaid Cymru's Mabon ap Gwynfor said many vapes were designed to be "deliberately appealing to children" and the legislation was needed to stop the "targeting" of them.

But Conservative James Evans opposed the bill, saying it would "take away people's personal responsibilities".

A "generational smoking ban is state overreach", he argued.

Evans added: "People should be able to make their own choices and the job of government is there to make people aware of the harms of smoking but not to take away their personal freedom."

MSs voted 36 in favour of the legislation with nine against and two abstentions.