The LGA has called for sufficient lead-in time and guidance to be provided ahead of legislation on smoking and vaping coming into force, so that councils, retailers and others understand their new obligations and can prepare accordingly.
As first was going to press, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – which would effectively ban smoking for future generations – was due to start its report stage in the House of Commons.
The bill would prohibit the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009, and would bring in rules regulating the marketing, flavours and descriptions of vapes.
The LGA believes this is a progressive piece of legislation that would impact on smoking prevalence and ultimately reduce rates of smoking-related disease; it has previously called for measures to restrict the availability and marketing of vapes to children.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils work hard in their communities to help long-term smokers quit and so are fully supportive of the Government’s ‘smokefree generation’ ambitions.
“Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable ill health, disability and death in England. This creates additional pressures on our health and care systems and affects the quality of life for some in our local communities.”