British lawmakers are poised to discuss and vote on the government’s groundbreaking smoking ban proposal, designed to deter young people from taking up smoking.
This bill, championed by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and supported by the opposition Labour Party, seeks to make it illegal to sell tobacco products to individuals born after January 1, 2009.
Despite some opposition from libertarian-leaning members within Sunak’s party, the bill is expected to pass, paving the way for what authorities dub as Britain’s “first smoke-free generation.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if enacted, will ensure that individuals turning 15 or younger this year will never legally purchase tobacco.
Furthermore, the legal age for purchasing cigarettes in England will incrementally rise each year until it becomes illegal for the entire population.
In addition to curbing youth smoking, the bill includes provisions to address youth vaping by prohibiting the sale of inexpensive disposable vapes and limiting flavor options to prevent nicotine addiction among children.
Presently, selling cigarettes, tobacco products, and vapes to those under 18 is already illegal across the UK.
While supporters laud the bill’s potential to reduce smoking rates among young people, opponents, including the smokers’ rights group FOREST, argue that it could stimulate the black market and undermine individual freedoms.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also voiced skepticism, calling the plans “absolutely nuts.”
Despite dissenting voices, the bill is anticipated to pass its initial stage in the House of Commons, reflecting a significant step toward creating a smoke-free future in the UK.
The inspiration for these measures is believed to have stemmed from similar policies proposed by New Zealand under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, although New Zealand’s recent government has since repealed the bill earlier this year.
Source-washingtonpost
