Reacting to the unanimous vote by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (Thursday 29 May 2025) to pass the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill Legislative Consent Motion (LCM), Professor Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
"The passing of this LCM is a welcome and much needed step in the ongoing battle to reduce smoking and the harmful use of tobacco and other equally addictive nicotine goods. It shows Scotland’s strong support for a UK wide approach to further restrict the promotion and supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including provision prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009.
"The health risks of smoking are well known,, including increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. Despite this, smoking is the most important preventable cause of ill health and premature death in Scotland being responsible for around one in five of all deaths and 41,000 hospital admissions each year.
"We are therefore grateful for the cross-party support. Tomorrow is the WHO’s World No Tobacco Day, so we look forward to seeing the UK Parliament pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at the earliest possible opportunity."