A minister has indicated that the Scottish Government would approve UK-wide legislation that aims to reduce smoking and vaping.
The Government will soon present a legislative consent memorandum, according to Jenni Minto, the minister of public health. This agreement permits Westminster to enact laws in areas that are typically devolved.
Children born on or after January 1, 2009, will never be able to lawfully purchase cigarettes due to UK-wide laws.
It also comes with further authority to control how vapes and nicotine products are displayed, filled, flavoured, and packaged.
Additionally, as of April 1, 2025, the Scottish Government plans to outlaw the sale of single-use vapes.
According to Minto, who updated MSPs on Tuesday, smoking rates are at an all-time low, but there has been a “notable increase” in the use of vapes by young people lately.
She declared: We will be bringing forward a legislative consent memorandum for consideration by this Parliament shortly, as the bill makes provisions that will fall within the purview of this Scottish Parliament.
According to her, there is “overwhelming support” for the ban on single-use vapes, and more consultations are scheduled for April.
The minister announced a more comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at curbing e-cigarette use and achieving the goal of a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034.
MSPs were informed by Minto that these actions are essential to our framework and offer a chance to have a major generational impact on Scotland’s health in the future.