Scottish Parliament votes to raise the age of sale for tobacco

Scottish MSPs voted unanimously last month to pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill legislative consent motion, which will ensure that once the Bill is successfully through the UK Parliament legislative process, it can be implemented in Scotland too.

The legislation will raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year so that anyone born on after January 1, 2009, will never legally be sold tobacco. This could help prevent young people from ever starting smoking and help to create Scotland’s first ever smokefree generation.

To get a sense of what the day was really like, and what the decision could mean, we caught up with Nicola Peedle from Scotland, a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador and primary school teacher, who attended the historic vote in Holyrood. She was joined by Cancer Research UK staff and fellow Campaigns Ambassadors as well as our partner organisations.

“There was a real buzz on the day,” said Nicola. “It was great to meet everyone and know that we were there with a shared goal.”

“The Public Health Minister Jenni Minto and cross-party MSPs came out of Holyrood to meet us and show their support for the LCM and Cancer Research UK’s campaign for a smokefree generation, which gave us all a real sense of purpose.

“I was in Parliament with the other Campaigns Ambassadors and CRUK staff members to listen to the debate on the Legislative Consent Motion. Jenni Minto gave a short speech in support of the Bill, and the motion was quickly agreed to by MSPs, meaning no formal debate or vote was required.

“The Bill had passed, and we all felt that the day had been a massive success; all the campaigning over many months to help create smokefree generations in children such as the ones I teach, along with a decrease in the number of tobacco related cancers and deaths will be hugely worthwhile.”

Creating a smokefree generation

To date, Northern Ireland and Scotland have both agreed to implement the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Welsh  parliamentarians still need to vote on their LCM. We hope they will do so as quickly as possible to ensure no nation is left behind.  

If the Bill then passes through the full UK legislative process in Westminster, this will mean the Bill can be implemented across all four UK nations, which will represent one of the biggest opportunities in over a decade to help prevent cancer across the UK.

Tobacco causes at least 16 different types of cancer and is the biggest cause of cancer and death in Scotland, killing around 9,100 people each year. It’s also one of the primary causes of health inequalities across the country, with smoking prevalence rates in Scotland more than four times higher in the most deprived versus least deprived areas in 2023. 

Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, Debbie King, said: “This vote in favour of the age of sale of tobacco legislation contained in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill brings us a step closer to helping prevent cancers caused by smoking.

“When tobacco still causes around one death every hour in Scotland, this is an incredibly important piece of legislation which could have a profound impact. By supporting this historic legislation, Members of Scottish Parliament have acted to protect the health of the nation and help create a smokefree generation.”

The decision also gives people like Nicola hope that we can finally end cancers caused by smoking.

“Given my family history of cancer, campaigning for a smokefree Scotland has allowed me to feel like I have a role to play in making things better for future generations,” said Nicola.

“Witnessing the LCM be voted through brings me immense joy and a sense of pride.”