The government claims the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a cornerstone of its public health strategy—a historic opportunity to deliver a smoke-free generation. Yet, watching the debate unfold in Parliament today, you’d be forgiven for wondering if our lawmakers really believed their own rhetoric. The chamber was sparsely populated. Those who did show up were often glued to their phones, chatting among themselves, or visibly disengaged.
How can such an important bill—one that could shape the future of public health—be met with such apathy? If the stakes are as high as MPs say they are, then why weren’t more of them in their seats, listening, questioning, and debating? And more importantly, how can a smoke-free future be achieved when the very tool that could deliver it—vaping—is under attack in this legislation?
"If the stakes are as high as MPs say they are, then why weren’t more of them in their seats?"
At Riot, we’re not just a brand; we’re part of a harm-reduction movement. We’ve seen how vaping transforms lives, helping smokers quit and stay smoke-free. But this bill, as debated, risks dismantling the very industry poised to end the UK’s smoking crisis. If MPs truly care about public health, it’s time they stop scrolling on their phones and start paying attention to what’s at stake.
What the Bill Promises—and Where It Fails
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill promises bold action: a gradual phase-out of tobacco sales to anyone born after 1 January 2009, stricter controls on sales, and enhanced protections against youth vaping. These measures sound commendable on the surface. But dig deeper, and the bill’s contradictions become clear. Instead of supporting vaping as a proven harm-reduction tool, the legislation treats it as part of the problem, imposing excessive restrictions that could stifle its potential.
Flavour Bans: A Misguided Attack
One of the bill’s most controversial measures is the potential ban on flavoured vapes. Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour) warned during the debate, “Flavours like bubblegum and candy are designed to lure children into vaping.” But what this argument overlooks is the critical role flavours play in helping adult smokers quit. A staggering 92% of adult vapers say flavours are essential to staying away from cigarettes.
Helen Morgan MP (North Shropshire, Liberal Democrat) hit the nail on the head when she said, “If we alienate adult smokers from switching to vaping, we risk losing one of our most effective tools for tobacco harm reduction.” The evidence supports her. Vaping has been instrumental in driving down smoking rates in the UK, yet this bill risks undoing that progress.
Plain Packaging: A Blow to Consumer Trust
Rt Hon Edward Argar MP (Melton and Syston, Conservative) defended the introduction of plain packaging for vaping products, stating it would “reduce the appeal of harmful products.” But vaping isn’t tobacco, and applying the same rules ignores its unique role in harm reduction. Mary Glindon MP (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour) rightly noted, “This measure risks confusing smokers, making it harder for them to differentiate reputable products from counterfeits.”
“If we alienate adult smokers from switching to vaping, we risk losing one of our most effective tools for tobacco harm reduction.”
When adult smokers can’t trust the products they buy, they’re less likely to switch to vaping—and more likely to stick with cigarettes. Plain packaging might reduce visibility, but it also strips away the cues that help consumers make informed choices.
Vape-Free Zones: Conflating Harm and Harm Reduction
One of the most baffling additions to the bill is the introduction of vape-free zones. These mimic smoke-free spaces, effectively banning vaping in public places. Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative) argued that this measure was necessary to prevent vaping from “normalising smoking behaviours.” But such logic falls apart when you consider the evidence.
“This measure risks confusing smokers, making it harder for them to differentiate reputable products from counterfeits.”
Vaping doesn’t produce harmful second-hand smoke, nor does it leave behind cigarette butts or ash. Treating it the same as smoking sends the wrong message, both to smokers looking to quit and to the public at large. Tristan Osborne MP (Chatham and Aylesford, Labour) summed it up perfectly: “Policies like this blur the lines between smoking and vaping, undermining the very harm-reduction message we should be promoting.”
Retail Licensing: Squeezing Small Businesses
For retailers, the bill introduces new licensing requirements that will make selling vaping products more complex and costly. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP (Suffolk Coastal, Labour) highlighted the strain this will place on small businesses: “Independent vape shops will feel the weight of these changes, many of them already struggling under existing regulations.”
These shops play a critical role in educating smokers about vaping and providing high-quality products. Closing them down doesn’t just hurt the businesses—it hurts the customers who rely on them. Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative) voiced concerns about the rise of counterfeit vapes: “If we restrict access to legitimate retailers, we leave the door wide open for unregulated, dangerous products.”
An Empty Chamber, An Empty Commitment
Despite the high stakes, the debate itself was lacklustre. Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, opened proceedings with a passionate defence of the bill: “This is about protecting our children and safeguarding our future.” Yet, by the time other MPs spoke, many of the seats were empty, and those present were often distracted by their phones or side conversations. James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat) later commented on this indifference, calling it “a symptom of a Parliament that is failing to treat harm reduction with the seriousness it deserves.”
If this bill truly matters as much as the government claims, why weren’t MPs fully engaged? Smoking kills 80,000 people annually in the UK and costs the NHS £2.4 billion a year. With such devastating consequences, you’d expect lawmakers to show up and contribute thoughtfully. Instead, the debate exposed a troubling lack of commitment.
Missed Opportunities for Public Health
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gets one thing right: protecting young people from nicotine addiction is a worthy goal. But the current approach risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The government should be doubling down on harm reduction strategies, not undermining them.
Here’s what the bill should prioritise instead:
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Enforce Existing Laws: Focus on cracking down on rogue retailers who sell to minors, rather than penalising the entire industry.
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Public Education: Fund campaigns that highlight vaping’s role as a safer alternative to smoking, countering misinformation.
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Support Retailers: Simplify licensing requirements and provide resources to help shops comply with new regulations.
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Combat Counterfeits: Devote enforcement efforts to shutting down black-market operators, ensuring consumers have access to safe, regulated products.
Join the Riot
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill isn’t just another piece of legislation—it’s a turning point for public health. If passed as is, it risks derailing years of progress in reducing smoking rates. Vaping has the potential to save lives, but only if we protect it from overregulation and misinformation.
To MPs, we say this: It’s time to wake up. Empty seats and distracted debates won’t deliver a smoke-free future. Every restriction you place on vaping strengthens the appeal of cigarettes. To vapers and smokers, this is your fight too. Contact your MP, share your story, and demand evidence-based policies that protect harm reduction.
Riot won’t stop fighting for a smoke-free future. Vaping isn’t the problem—it’s the solution. And we’ll keep fighting to make sure it remains part of the answer. Join the Riot. Together, we can ensure the UK leads the world in reducing smoking and saving lives.
