MPs in Parliament have voted in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at its Second Reading by 383 votes to 67.
The Bill seeks to create a smoke-free Britain and impose restrictions on advertising the sale of vapes to children.
If the legislation passes all of its parliamentary stages, it would mean that it will be illegal for anyone aged 15 or younger this year to ever be sold tobacco products.
Provisions in the Bill are also targeted at clamping down on appealing branding of vaping products to children, after it was found that 1 in 5 children have used a vape. Powers will be introduced to restrict flavours, point of sale displays in retail outlets, and vape packaging.
Retailers caught selling nicotine products illegally will face on the spot £100 fixed penalty notices.
The Bill is intended to create a smoke-free Britain, with smoking causing around 80,000 deaths every year, as well as 1 in 4 cancer deaths, including 70% of lung cancer cases.
Smoking-related problems also leads to 75,000 GP appointments every month, at a cost of £17 billion to the economy and wider society every year.
Hexham MP Guy Opperman voted in favour of the Bill on Tuesday evening. Commenting on how it will make a difference to local people, Mr Opperman said:
‘I was proud to support this legislation. It is specifically designed to protect future generations from an incredibly addictive drug which we know prematurely kills over 100,000 people a year in this country.
This landmark Bill will ease the burden smoking places on our NHS and free up much-needed GP appointments. When the Bill comes into law, future generations will be able to enjoy a much healthier and wealthier society.
I was also pleased to see provisions in the Bill targeted at vapes, which are too easily accessible for children. I regularly attend litter pics in Tynedale and I am always shocked by the number of disposable vapes blighting our green spaces. Tough action to crack down on underage sales is needed, and this is exactly what the Bill will do.’
Mr Opperman has been helping local litter picker, Jane Hodson-Hamilton, who is the Wildlife and Clean Green Lead for the Northumberland Campaign to Protect Rural England group.
Jane Hodson-Hamilton also welcomed the progress of the Bill. She said:
'I am concerned by the large and increasing number of discarded vapes I am picking up on a regular basis. I am also acutely aware of the damage which disposable vapes do to our environment and our wildlife.
I welcome any measures which would help to reduce the number of vapes which find their way into our countryside. I hope the speedy introduction of this legislation heralds a ban for all disposable vapes in the near future.'