The King's Speech has confirmed that the Government intends to introduce legislation to raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year until no-one can legally buy cigarettes.

In response to a policy that threatens to fuel illicit trade whilst treating future generations of adults like children, Forest is inviting you to join a panel of smokers, ex-smokers, and one non-smoker for drinks (with food), followed by a discussion about the nanny state and the dangers of creeping prohibition and its effect on adult choices and behaviour.

The event, at Old Queen Street Cafe in Westminster on Monday 20th November, will also mark the publication of 'Freedom: Up In Smoke?', a new Letter on Liberty published by the Academy of Ideas.

Speakers:
Simon Clark, Forest
Baroness Fox of Buckley
Henry Hill, ConservativeHome
Reem Ibrahim, Institute of Economic Affairs
Ella Whelan, Academy of Ideas

Places are limited so please reserve your place as soon as possible. RSVP [email protected] or register on our Eventbrite page.

We very much hope you will join us and make your voices heard because, despite the announcement in the King's Speech, this is NOT the end of the matter. 

A public consultation (Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping) is currently taking place (closing date: Wednesday 6th December), and the Government also has to convince many of its own MPs that the policy is not a betrayal of some core Conservative principles, notably freedom of choice and personal responsibility.

See also: Tory grassroots oppose Sunak's smoking ban (The Spectator)

TPA Talks

On the same subject, Simon Clark, director of Forest, spoke to the TaxPayers Alliance recently for an episode of TPA Talks, the TPA podcast.

Reflecting on the Prime Minister's plan to introduce a generational ban on the sale of tobacco following decades of creeping regulation, Simon explained how the war on smokers and the rise of the nanny state have worrying implications for us all - smokers or not.

To watch it click here or on the image below, or there’s an audio only version on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Details and links here.