The Interim Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire has welcomed the publication of a new Tobacco and Vapes Bill this week.

The Interim Director of Public Health Vivienne Robbins said: “We know that most people start smoking before the age of 20, so increasing the age of sale for tobacco products is likely to be effective in reducing smoking levels. Local survey work also tells us that our communities are concerned about vaping levels in young people, and about the effects of second-hand smoke on children, so the proposals to curb youth vaping and to increase smokefree spaces are also positive.

“Any legislation to support the objective to prevent vaping and smoking among children and young people is to be welcomed, whilst maintaining the option for adult smokers to use vapes as a way to stop smoking. For smokers, vapes can be an effective quit aid, and are less harmful than smoking tobacco. But for non-smokers, it’s best not to start to vape, as vapes are addictive and not harmless.”

Like in England as a whole, smoking has been reducing in Nottinghamshire over recent years, and now stands at 10% of adults. But this still means there are at least 67,000 smokers in the county, and about 8,000 local smoking-related hospital admissions per year, so it continues to be an important local health issue.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health, Councillor Scott Carlton, said: “We welcome proposals to prevent young people from starting to smoke and to protect others, especially children, by extending smokefree environments.  

“We’re taking every opportunity to highlight the free support services available to help people who want to stop smoking. Smokers in the County who want to quit can get in touch with our local stop smoking service for the best possible chance of succeeding.”

Smoking causes or contributes to serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and respiratory conditions. It continues to be the leading cause of death and ill-health in Nottinghamshire. Two in three smokers die from smoking-related causes. For these reasons, the council wants to prevent people from starting to smoke and encourage those who do to try and give up.

Local community stop smoking service delivered through Your Health Notts offers friendly advice, free stop smoking aids and ongoing support to help people quit. People are more than three times more likely to quit successfully by using a stop smoking service for support. Nottinghamshire residents can access Your Health Notts on 0115 772 2515 or visiting www.yourhealthnotts.co.uk.  

Work with schools, youth services and other partners helps young people resist peer pressure to smoke and vape. The council’s Trading Standards service works hard to prevent sales to under 18s, through premises inspections, test purchases of underage sales, seizing illegal products and providing advice to retailers about the law. Anyone can report underage or illegal product sales to Trading Standards through the Citizen’s Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.