VAPING firms have been warned the Labour Government will come down on them like a “ton of bricks”.
Wes Streeting insisted e-cigarette puffing is a “great tool” for people who want to quit smoking.
But he told Never Mind The Ballots he is anxious about an entire generation of kids being “hooked on nicotine” through vaping.
The new Labour Government has put a Tobacco and Vapes Bill back on the legislative agenda, which aims to impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes.
The Bill also carries through Rishi Sunak’s policy of eventually phasing out cigarettes by stopping anyone born after January 2009 from ever smoking.
And secret Whitehall papers seen by The Sun last month revealed ministers are also plotting to drastically extend the indoor smoking ban to beer gardens and outside football stadiums.
While it is understood horse racing tracks will be spared from the ban, pub gardens are still set to be stung.
Mr Streeting told our Political Editor Harry Cole: “On smoking, we have got a situation where, despite all the progress that’s been made over the years, it’s still the biggest killer.
“The cost to our economy and the health service is enormous, and it is a hard habit for people to break.
“And we’re determined to make sure that this generation of kids are the first ever smoke-free generation.”
Pressed on the planned crack down on vaping, which is viewed as an effective tool to get smokers to quit, the Health Secretary said: “There’s a serious point on vaping.
“It can and is a great tool for smokers to quit smoking.
“What I am anxious about, though, is the generation of kids who’ve been hooked on nicotine through vaping.
“We’re going to come down on that like a ton of bricks.”
Health minister Baroness Merron blasted vaping firms last month, insisting targeting vapes at children is “abhorrent”.
Her comments came after research revealed a million youngsters in Britain admitted to trying e-cigarettes this year.
Labour’s proposed legislation will pave the way for measures to curb the attraction of vaping to children and young people, such as restricting the flavours, packaging and display of e-cigarettes.
A vape tax could deter “price sensitive” young people, said Lady Merron while the Government was also “actively considering” a retail licensing scheme.
Spot fines will be introduced to crack down on under-age sales by shops, while a ban is being looked at for disposable vapes, which remain the most popular choice of e-cigarettes among young people.
By NOA HOFFMAN, Political Correspondent
ANAS Sarwar told Never Mind The Ballots that Brits will have to endure painful decisions in the short-term in order to help the economy boom in the long-term.
The Scottish Labour Leader acknowledged that Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payment was tough.
But he insisted pensioners will feel better off overall under Labour.
Mr Sarwar said: “There are going to be difficult decisions.
“But what you’ve heard is no return to austerity, which is really important.
“There’s £6bn more going into pensioners pockets because of the triple lock.
“Was that a decision we wanted to make? Absolutely not.
“But we’ve got to make sure we’re fixing the economy.”
