Labour pledges to sort out vaping as extra younger individuals take up the behavior

Labour will ‘tackle the scourge of vaping’ once it has clamped down on smoking, a senior minister said yesterday.

Vaping has been promoted by the NHS as a tool for helping smokers kick the habit. But Commons Leader Lucy Powell yesterday suggested that it was next in line for restrictions.

Industry leaders have warned the proposed plans to ban outdoor smoking in some settings, including beer gardens and outside stadiums, could add to the challenges facing the hospitality sector. Some estimates suggest one in eight pubs could close as a result.

Ms Powell told Sky News the controversial plan was necessary to help reduce the 80,000 annual deaths from smoking-related illnesses. ‘We’re certainly not attacking the hospitality industry,’ she said. ‘We support the hospitality industry.

‘It’s vital to our communities, our high street, our economy.’ 

Commons Leader Lucy Powell (pictured) suggested that vaping is next in line for restrictions

Vaping has been promoted by the NHS as a tool for helping smokers kick the habit (Stock Image)

Ministers have declined to comment in detail on leaked proposals suggesting that a crackdown on outdoor smoking could also be applied to vaping.

But Ms Powell suggested that vaping will face restrictions in time. ‘We also want to tackle the scourge of vaping, which is a real blight for many young people,’ she said.

Former Labour frontbencher Rachael Maskell warned last week that restrictions on vaping were a ‘very obvious’ next step.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UK Hospitality, has warned a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces ‘comes with the prospect of serious economic harm to hospitality venues’.

‘This ban would not only affect pubs and nightclubs, but hotels, cafes and restaurants that have all invested significantly in good faith in outdoor spaces and continue to face financial challenges,’ she said.

It comes after Britain’s biggest doctors’ union demanded a total ban on disposable vapes to protect children. The British Medical Association has called on the Government to take ‘bold and brave actions’ as it warns of a ‘growing epidemic’ of vaping.

Figures show the regular use of vapes among children and young people has increased almost sixfold in the past decade. A BMA report blamed the rise on the ‘widespread availability’ of disposable e-cigarettes.

A man and woman light up cigarettes while enjoying a meal with some wine outside a pub in Soho, London. Labour proposed plans to ban outdoor smoking in some settings, including beer gardens and outside stadium

Former Labour frontbencher Rachael Maskell (pictured) warned last week that restrictions on vaping were a ‘very obvious’ next step

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UK Hospitality, has warned a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces ‘comes with the prospect of serious economic harm to hospitality venues’

A BMA report wants ministers to ban all imagery and colouring on vapes (Stock Image)

It wants ministers to ban all imagery, colouring and branding on vapes and their packaging – as well as non-tobacco flavours. 

They should also be kept behind the counter and out of sight, the BMA adds.

Dr Penelope Toff, chairman of the BMA’s public health medicine committee, called on the Government ‘to go even further’ than the plans outlined by Rishi Sunak and described the report as a blueprint for action.