More than one in ten ex-smokers who vape could relapse under Rishi Sunak's plan to restrict flavours, Government assessment claims

More than 1 successful 10 ex-smokers who switched to vapes could relapse nether plans to restrict flavours, according to nan Government's ain effect assessment.

The Department of Health highlighted investigation which estimated that 13 per cent of ex-smokers who vape could spell backmost to cigarettes if flavours were not available.

Rishi Sunak's hotly-contested proposal last nighttime cleared its first hurdle. MPs voted by 383 to 67 to backmost nan 'mad' ban. 

Under nan bill, anyone calved aft 2009 won't beryllium capable to bargain tobacco. This intends children aged 15 aliases younger coming will ne'er legally beryllium sold a cigaret successful England.

Vapes are besides expected to beryllium constricted to 4 flavours, sold successful plain, tobacco-style packaging and displayed retired of show of kids arsenic portion of nan aforesaid crackdown.

Currently vapes are sold successful colourful packaging and successful flavours specified arsenic fabric candy, which campaigners opportunity entreaty to children.

However, critics and MPs opposed to 'nanny-state' measures interest nan PM's flagship argumentation for a 'smoke-free generation' will backfire. 

In its effect assessment, nan Government said nan 13 per cent fig was likely to beryllium an 'upper limit'. 

But, referencing research by Bristol University, it highlighted estimates that 'four per cent of smokers discontinue because of vapes, and 33 per cent of smokers stated that they would not discontinue and/or fume much if flavours were not available'.

The effect appraisal added: 'For ex-smokers, it was estimated that 13 per cent of ex-smokers vape and 13 per cent of these ex-smokers would relapse if flavours were not available.'

The appraisal said nan Bristol University determination assistance instrumentality is 'based connected a script wherever only 3 flavours stay connected nan market'. 

These were: unflavoured, tobacco, and menthol.

The effect appraisal continued: 'The effect connected smokers quitting and ex-smokers relapsing would beryllium little if less flavours were restricted.

'Secondly, location are different discontinue immunodeficiency that smokers could try, specified arsenic different nicotine replacement therapies.'

Mr Sunak's bold proposals person agelong been criticised arsenic 'illiberal' by critics. 

Some fearfulness that wellness chiefs whitethorn oculus up crackdowns connected sugar, caffeine and alcohol next, calling nan move a 'slippery slope'. 

Vocal nay-sayers include ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage and erstwhile PM Boris Johnson, who has labelled nan prohibition 'mad' and 'absolutely nuts'. 

Fifty 9 Tory MPs — including six Government ministers  — past nighttime opposed nan plans.  

Among them included Kemi Badenoch, Steve Baker and ex-Cabinet ministers Suella Braverman, Sir Simon Clarke and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.

More than 100 Tories besides grounded to vote, leaving conscionable 165 of nan cohort of 347 backing nan bill. 

Responding to nan ban's backlash, England's main aesculapian serviceman yesterday rejected 'pro-choice' arguments.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty based on alternatively that cigarettes were a merchandise 'designed to return your prime away'.

Meanwhile, Home Office curate Laura Farris said she was 'not peculiarly willing successful arguments astir freedom'. 

The MP for Newbury, who took up smoking astatine 12, told LBC: 'It took maine years and years and years to quit. It's 1 of my biggest regrets, actually.

'I've sewage 2 young kids now and nan truth that they will ne'er beryllium capable to locomotion into a shop and bargain a packet of cigarettes is thing I welcome.

'It gets you hooked. It's a horrible habit. And moreover erstwhile you're doing it, you cognize that you're causing yourself irreparable harm. And it's incredibly difficult to get off.'

The Government believes nan phased ban, raising nan ineligible property for purchasing baccy by 1 twelvemonth each twelvemonth from 2027, will lead to 1.7million less group smoking by 2075.

It predicts nan move will prevention tens of thousands of lives, and avoiding debar up to 115,000 cases of strokes, bosom disease, lung cancer and different lung diseases. 

The smoking prohibition was initially recommended successful a Government-commissioned study past twelvemonth by ex-children's kindness main Javed Khan. 

He warned that that without urgent action, England would miss nan 2030 'smoke-free' target by astatine slightest 7 years, pinch nan poorest areas not gathering it until 2044. 

The plans are believed to person been inspired by a sweeping crackdown planned by New Zealand’s erstwhile government. 

But successful November, nan country's caller Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced he was ditching nan 'world first' plan, pinch nan U-turn alternatively backing taxation cuts. 

Smoking rates successful nan UK are now nan lowest connected record, astatine 12.9 per cent — aliases astir 6.4million people.

But smoking kills astir 78,000 group successful nan UK each year, pinch galore much surviving pinch illnesses owed to their wont — half of which are owed to cardiovascular diseases, specified arsenic bosom onslaught and stroke. 

It is estimated that astir 500,000 infirmary admissions each twelvemonth successful England are attributable to smoking and that smoking costs nan system £17billion per year.