The British Government has proposed a smoking ban for the next generation. Image credit: Wirestock, Freepik
The British Government has proposed banning the sale of cigarettes to the next generation, so they grow up “smoke free”.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the annual Conservative Party Conference that he wanted to “stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place”.
Sunak proposed raising the legal smoking age by one year every year.
This would mean that anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be able to purchase tobacco in England.
“A 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette… they and their generation can grow up smoke free,” said Sunak.
He also plans to introduce stronger measures to restrict the availability of vapes to children.
“People take up cigarettes when they’re young. Four in five smokers have started by the time they’re 20,” said the prime minister.
“Later, the vast majority try to quit… if we could break that cycle, if we could stop the start, then we would be on our way to ending the biggest cause of preventable death and disease in our country.”
The Chief Medical Officer for England said that majority of medical professionals and health foundations support the ban.
However, the Tobacco Manufacturers Association criticised the ban as a “disproportionate attack” on an adult’s rights and says it would lead to black market trade.
“The prohibition of legal products always has dangerous side effects and opens the door to criminal gangs to sell illegal products,” they said.
The proposal follows in the footsteps of New Zealand — the first country to implement a similar smoking ban which will go into effect in 2027.
Denmark is also considering a similar move.
In Australia, a comprehensive package of tobacco control reforms was recently introduced but does not go as far as banning sales to the younger generation.
Health Minister Mark Bulter said the Albanese government will be monitoring the success of the smoking bans.
“The UK and New Zealand have responded to the specific tactics of ‘Big Tobacco’ marketed to their populations, and we will monitor their implementation success with interest.”
The smoking ban will need to pass a free vote in UK Parliament, but it is unclear when the vote will occur.
