A MAJOR crackdown on smokers and vapers is set to be revived by the new Government, alongside a ban on energy drink sales. Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke made a comeback in today’s King’s Speech. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was set aside when Parliament shut down for the general election but Sir Keir Starmer decided to reintroduce it.
The Bill aims to stop anyone born on or after January 2009 from ever buying cigarettes, creating a smoke-free generation. It also targets vape marketing, banning child-friendly flavours and flashy packaging to keep kids from getting hooked. King Charles said: “A Bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes.
” The Bill will also beef up enforcement, letting Trading Standards crack down faster on illegal sales. This means stopping shops from selling tobacco and vapes to kids by handing out on-the-spot fines. Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty said a “smoke free country” will prevent “disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future”.
The King also said his ministers will legislate to “restrict advertising of junk food to children along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children”. It is understood this will be done through secondary legislation. Under the plans, drinks containing more than 150mg (0.
03 teaspoons) of caffeine per litre (a pint and .