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Sale of Tobacco (Licensing)
09 November 2022
Lead MP
Bob Blackman
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Local Government
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Bob Blackman raised concerns about sale of tobacco (licensing) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Moves a Bill to make provision about the sale by retail of tobacco and related goods, emphasising the need to rectify the lack of licensing for retailers selling tobacco. The current situation is compared to alcohol regulation, where retailers must possess a licence. Smoking kills around 78,000 people in England annually, while alcohol was directly responsible for approximately 7,000 deaths. Two-thirds of those who try just one cigarette go on to become addicted daily smokers. Javed Khan OBE recommends a retail licensing scheme rolled out nationally by local authorities with heavy financial penalties and public health criteria attached.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Proposes that retailers must possess a licence to sell tobacco, which is currently not the case despite cigarettes being more harmful than alcohol. The licensing system would include mandatory age verification and public health criteria such as prohibiting sales near schools and requiring less harmful alternatives. Support for this measure comes from local retailers, with over eight in 10 supporting it.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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