From fears “it’s not going to do anything”, to calls to “stop the kids smoking”, to confusion about how it’s different to existing legislation: people who live and work in Islington had a lot to say about new government plans to restrict the sale of tobacco to youngsters.
Children turning 15 this year, or younger, will never legally be sold cigarettes, according to the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is, today, starting its journey towards becoming law.
Clint, a 40-year-old hairdresser at a salon in Angel’s Chapel Market, is a smoker, but said of the bill: “I think it’s quite good because I don’t want to smoke to be honest.”
“I think they should just get rid of them to be honest”, he added, saying jokingly: “I would be angry for a few weeks, but…!”
Smoking itself will not be criminalised under the new law, so anyone who can legally buy tobacco now won’t be stopped from doing so in future.
Instead, this law aims to raise the legal age people in the UK can buy cigarettes by one year annually so that eventually, no one will be able to buy tobacco.
Nina, a 42-year-old charity operations worker and mother, who lives in Islington, echoed Clint’s sentiments, saying she was “very happy” to see the government cracking down on youth smoking: “I really hate people smoking in public. I think if they could get rid of smoking and vaping completely, it would be brilliant.”
Youth vaping will also be targeted by the bill, with added restrictions on flavours and packaging marketed at children.
The law also gives powers to council officers to issue £100 on-the-spot fines to shops that fail to clamp down on underage sales of tobacco and vapes (in addition to the maximum £2,500 fine local councils can already impose). Retailers will also no longer be able to give free samples of vapes to under-18s.
But Jay, the shopkeeper of the 4You Express corner shop on Chadwell Street, was confused about what this would really add to existing restrictions on selling tobacco to under-18s.
He explained: “We know it’s illegal to sell to under-18s, so that’s why we always check ID, and we don’t sell to any under-18s. Even if we’re not sure, even if they look bigger than 18, we ask for ID.”
Baraa, a 34-year-old student, mother and Islington resident, was glad this new legislation was coming in for the sake of her children’s health: “It’s not healthy for my kids. I’m looking for anything good for them, anything healthy. Fresh air, clear air. That’s why I always try to go to the park, to get them to take fresh air.”
But Clint was dubious about whether the legislation would be effective: “You can ban it, but people still get drunk, so! It’s not going to do anything, but it would be good to stop the kids smoking.”
News reporter for Islington Now and freelancer across other outlets. ENO Responder 23/24. Ex-Editor-in-Chief at The Tab Cambridge.