It’s not just Guernsey that could raise the age of sale of tobacco from 18 to 21.
Ireland has already passed legislation to raise the minimum age of sale to 21 (from 2028), and this week it was reported that the Netherlands could consider the policy too.
Only the UK Government has plans to introduce a generational ban that will eventually outlaw the sale of tobacco to adults of all ages, but I suspect that 21 could become the norm in many other countries over the next decade, just as it is in the United States where introducing a minimum age of sale of 21 became a federal law in December 2019.
And here lies an opportunity for opponents of a generational ban in the UK because an amendment to raise the age of sale to 21 (replacing the gen ban) has been tabled by DUP MP Sammy Wilson and will be debated by MPs at the report stage and third reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Wednesday Msrch 26.
Although I'm still opposed in principle to raising the age of sale above 18, the age at we are legally recognised as adults, 21 would be better than a generational ban so in that sense I would welcome it, albeit through gritted teeth.
From the Government's point of view it surely makes sense to align the UK with some of our closest neighbours rather than risk a significant loss of revenue as a result of illicit trade or UK consumers choosing to buy their tobacco from legitimate retailers in more ‘liberal’ jurisdictions abroad.
Meanwhile we await the Conservative Party’s position on the generational ban and other measures in the Bill, including further restrictions on vapes.
I know Kemi Badenoch voted against the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, but watching the committee stage it was impossible to deduce what the Conservatives’ official position is because two of her MPs – Dr Caroline Johnson and newbie Jack Rankin – were often in open conflict.
As shadow health minister Dr Johnson was the senior of the two, and if you listened to her you could be forgiven for thinking the Tories want to go even further than Labour.
As far as I know, Conservative MPs will once again be given a free vote when the Bill returns to the Commons for the report stage and third reading, and I can see why that would appeal to the leadership who don't want to split a much reduced parliamentary party by forcing MPs to vote in a way that might provoke open rebellion from the likes of Bob Blackman, chair of both the APPG on Smoking and Health and the influential 1922 Committee.
But this is an early opportunity for Badenoch to put clear blue water between the party she leads and Labour. Unfortunately far too many Tory MPs pay lip service to freedom of choice and personal responsibility and when it comes to voting they are just as wedded to the nanny state as every other party, bar Reform.
That is not, btw, an endorsement of Reform whose descent into bitter infighting was entirely predictable. I have mentioned, several times, why I never wanted to go into party politics, and this is why – people spend far too much time fighting their own colleagues instead of the opposition.
Anyway, I'm strictly Team Kemi but I would like to see a clear statement from the leader of the Opposition concerning the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and I will be disappointed if that opportunity goes begging because principles matter in politics and this is a chance to nail her more liberal colours firmly to the mast.
Voters want authenticity and leadership from politicians and that means sticking to your principles and beliefs. Yes, politicians have to be pragmatic too (Margaret Thatcher was more pragmatic and less of an ideologue than she is often given credit for), but a clear statement from the leader of the Opposition opposing the generational tobacco ban would be a welcome step forward for a Conservative Party that appears to have abandoned many of its core values.