Action on Smoking Health (UK)

🚭20 years on, we are on the cusp of another historic moment, as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves through Parliament. The Bill will introduce a smokefree generation, protecting all future generations from the harms caused by tobacco.

Celebrating 20 Years Since Parliament Voted to Introduce Indoor Smokefree Legislation - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

2️⃣0️⃣ years ago an 'impossible dream' became reality when the House of Commons voted for the Health Bill, which contained measures to prohibit smoking in enclosed public places.

To mark the moment, we asked 7 key figures to reflect on the vital moment for public health.

ash.org.uk/media-centre...

⏳ It’s one week to go until the Tobacco and Vapes Bill begins Report Stage.
🏛️ASH has been busy meeting with peers in the Lords, including the leads on the Bill from the 3 main parties.
🚭It’s fantastic to see strong cross-party support for a smokefree generation, and we’re looking forward to Report!

🚭20 years on, we are on the cusp of another historic moment, as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves through Parliament. The Bill will introduce a smokefree generation, protecting all future generations from the harms caused by tobacco.

🎉The vote was a historic moment for public health that has saved thousands of lives, protected the public from the dangers of second-hand smoke, and encouraged many smokers to quit.

💘 This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate 20 years since the House of Commons voted for the Health Bill, which contained measures that would prohibit smoking in enclosed public places. The Government also took the power to raise the age for the purchase of tobacco from 16 to 18 💕

Children to be better protected from second-hand smoking & vaping The government is launching a consultation on extending smoke-free places and introducing vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces

🚬doesn’t just kill smokers.

It also kills non-smokers & causes illnesses inc cancers, heart, and lung diseases that affect adults and children.

🚭The proposed changes are not only needed, but they also have strong public support🤲.

👀Read our response ➡️bit.ly/4bNn3tw
www.gov.uk/government/n...

5 Live Breakfast - 13/02/2026 - BBC Sounds Steffan Powell and Rima Ahmed with unique stories, and the biggest news and sport.

"It's an important question to be asking. The intention behind the proposals is particularly in reference to protecting children."

👂Catch ASH CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social discussing Govt proposals to ban vaping in cars with children on Five Live (~8.15am).

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

"This is all part of how we reach a point where smoking becomes obsolete."

Watch ASH CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social on BBC Breakfast this am discussing new Government proposals to extend smokefree places to reduce the harm from tobacco in England .

🚨We welcome the Government’s launch of a consultation on expanding smokefree legislation, marking an important moment 20 years on from the parliamentary vote that delivered comprehensive smokefree indoor public places.

🚭The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will begin Report Stage on the 24th Feb.

📢 Last year, 1200 public health professionals shared their support for the Bill and urged faster progress. We are pleased that the Govt listened and the Bill is now moving much more quickly. 🎉

Now let’s get the Bill passed! 💪

Middle-aged women from deprived backgrounds struggle to quit smoking Middle-aged women from more deprived backgrounds in Great Britain are significantly more likely to smoke and face greater challenges when trying to quit, according to a new study from researchers at U...

A new study from @ucl.ac.uk and @cancerresearchuk.org has found that middle-aged women from more deprived backgrounds are more likely to smoke and struggle to quit smoking.

Smoking causes health inequalities, and this study highlights why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is so important.

YouTube video by FreshSFNE The Great Cigarette Filter Fraud new version

Tobacco companies told us filters made smoking safer. They don’t. Filters don’t block cancer-causing chemicals - and those butts are the world’s most littered item.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ6U...
@ashorguk.bsky.social

Report stage for the Tobacco & Vapes Bill kicks off in just a couple of weeks and last week, @ashorguk.bsky.social and members of the Smoke Free Action Coalition hosted an event in Parliament to speak to peers about how important it is to get this groundbreaking legislation over the line. 🚭

2️⃣ This report from STOP highlights evidence from the Philippines that shows that tobacco taxes are not the primary driver of the illicit trade, as the tobacco industry often alleges.

exposetobacco.org/wp-content/u...

A turning point for cancer? Breaking down the National Cancer Plan for England - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News The UK Government has launched a National Cancer Plan for England. Will it be the turning point for cancer that we need?

🔗Links of the week🔗

1️⃣ This @cancerresearchuk.org blog explains what is included in the Government's National Cancer Plan published earlier this week, and what more needs to be done.

news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/02/04/b...

🔶Baroness Walmsley explained why action on tobacco is so important and thanked local authorities for their work on smoking cessation services that help so many people stop smoking and improve their health. She urged the Government to do more to help current smokers to quit.

🔵Earl Howe praised this “groundbreaking” legislation and reflected on the steps previous governments have taken – such as plain packaging legislation introduced during his time as Health Minister. He noted that the “three main political parties are completely aligned” on the smokefree generation.

🌹Baroness Merron thanked the SFAC for their steadfast work on tobacco control. She noted that by the time her speech ended, 4 or 5 people would've been admitted to hospital with a preventable disease, emphasising how crucial the Bill is to protect "future generations from the harms of tobacco”.

ASH was in Parliament yesterday with the Smokefree Action Coalition, speaking to peers about why the smokefree generation is so important. It was fantastic to hear such strong cross-party support from our speakers for the Tobacco & Vapes Bill. Ending smoking is not a partisan issue!

Great to be at the @ashorguk.bsky.social parliamentary event today speaking to Minister Merron, Peers and sector colleagues about the importance of the smokefree generation aspect of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 🚭

People who smoke are three times more likely to have a stroke and twice as likely to die from one.

There's no safe age to start smoking, so we welcome measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that aim to prevent children and young people from becoming addicted in the first place.

ASH were happy to be in Parliament today hosting the Smokefree Action Coalition & peers working on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill

It was fantastic to hear everyone share their commitment to the smokefree generation policy and to bring everyone together to talk about this huge moment for public health🚭

New research shows that spending less on tobacco, gambling and sweets is good for the UK economy - Sheffield Addictions Research Group A new study from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has found that public health policies which reduce spending on harmful products can actually provide a significant boost to UK jobs and ...

"When people stop spending on harmful products they buy other things, and that actually supports more jobs and generates more value for the UK."

🚨New research from @sarg-scharr.bsky.social busts industry arguments about the impact of regulation on the economy.
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/n...

It's great to see the Government commit to funding stop smoking services & support for quitting smoking in pregnancy, but there's more to be done.

There are still over 5 million people who smoke in the UK. Alongside the Cancer Plan the Government needs a target to reduce smoking in this Parliament.

🎗️Today is World Cancer Day.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer.

Today’s National Cancer Plan reinforces the Government’s commitment to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and the smokefree generation policy that will ensure our children do not grow up with the cancers caused by smoking.

Yet in the UK, JTI have been advocating for this policy in opposition to the smokefree generation … shorturl.at/lMpps

Spot the difference 👀

The Dutch tobacco industry association VSK, whose members include BAT and JTI, have spoken out against proposals to raise the age of sale for tobacco and nicotine products to 21 in the Netherlands shorturl.at/i3rNf

What does the Tobacco and Vapes Bill actually do? - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read our blog here for more information about what The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will do: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

📅 Report stage in the House of Lords gives peers a further opportunity to examine and make amendments to the Bill.

🏛️After Report stage finishes, the Bill will be reprinted with the amendments agreed at Report, before the Bill moves to Third Reading.