The British government’s plan for a landmark smoking ban that aims to prevent young people from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in Parliament. Despite vocal opposition from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, the bill would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009. If passed, the bill will give Britain some of the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world and create the country’s first smoke-free generation. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, children turning 15 this year or younger will never be legally sold tobacco, and the legal age of sale for cigarettes will be raised by one year every year until it is eventually illegal for the whole population.
The bill also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping, such as banning the sale of cheap disposable vapes and restricting flavors to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine. During the bill’s second reading, 383 lawmakers voted in favor while 67 opposed it after an afternoon of debate. Health experts and the opposition Labour Party praised the bill, but Sunak faced rebellion from more libertarian-minded members of his party who criticized the proposals as “unconservative.” Opponents, including the smokers’ rights lobbying group FOREST, warned of creating a black market and treating future generations like children. Prominent Conservative Party members, including Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, criticized the bill for limiting personal freedoms and being a “virtue-signaling” piece of legislation.
Inspired by similar policies proposed by New Zealand under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the smoke-free generation plan aims to reduce smoking habits in the UK. The government clarified that smoking won’t be criminalized, and current smokers will not be prevented from buying cigarettes in the future. Despite a two-thirds decline in the number of smokers since the 1970s, around 6.4 million people in the UK still smoke, causing 80,000 deaths annually and remaining the top preventable cause of death, disability, and poor health. The bill aims to address the public health crisis associated with smoking and improve the overall well-being of the population. The government’s phased approach and strict regulations seek to reduce smoking rates and protect future generations from the harms of tobacco.
