British legislators will vote today on a smoking ban to create the "first smoke-free generation."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's primary initiative will ban tobacco sales to everyone born after January 1, 2009, phasing out smoking. Labor supports the bill, which should pass. Sunak faces opposition from conservatives who call the initiative "unconservative."
If approved, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would progressively raise the tobacco purchase age. No one under 15 could buy cigarettes this year. The legal smoking age would climb one year every year until it applied to everyone, per ABC News.
The UK smoking ban bill also bans inexpensive disposable vapes and restricts flavor selections to prevent young nicotine addiction. The UK forbids the sale of tobacco to minors.
Preserving the Health of The Next Generations
The UK's top avoidable cause of death is smoking, killing 80,000 people a year. Supporters of the UK smoking ban, including health authorities and NHS managers, believe it will significantly lower the number. The Ministry estimates the ban may reduce youth smoking rates (14-30) to near zero by 2040.
"By preventing children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco, we reduce their risk of developing preventable diseases later in life and protect children from nicotine addiction," said Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health president Prof. Steve Turner.
By 2100, the "smoke-free generation" project might avoid over 470,000 cases of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other diseases, according to the government. According to government data, smoking costs the UK £17 billion ($21 billion) a year, £10 billion ($12 billion) of which is lost productivity. They claim these expenses exceed the £10 billion tobacco tax revenue, The Guardian reported.
Some Conservative MPs oppose the bill as an excess of government power. Former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson called the measures "profoundly unconservative" and the prohibition "absolutely nuts."
Truss says conservatives shouldn't grow the "nanny state" because it empowers freedom-cutters. Other Tory MPs worry that the prohibition might become unworkable and lead to alcohol restrictions. Former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said, "An enforcement nightmare and a slippery slope-alcohol next?"
Despite major UK smoking rate declines, concerns persist about older teens using tobacco. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that over 12% of 16- to 17-year-olds in England smoke cigarettes. While smoking among 11 to 17-year-olds has fallen in the previous decade, disposable vaping has increased, which is worrying.
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(Photo : Benjamin Cremel - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak records a statement about the Iranian attacks on Israel overnight, at 10 Downing Street on April 14, 2024 in London, England.
The ONS also indicates a nationwide uptrend. The lowest percentage of individuals aged 18 and older who smoke cigarettes was 12.9% in 2022, the lowest since 2011. Adults 65 and older have the lowest smoking rate, while 25-to 34-year-olds smoke the most, per the BBC.
England has the lowest smoking rate in the UK, whereas Wales has the highest.
This drop is partly due to high tobacco prices, say experts. A pack of 20 cigarettes costs over £15 ($18), mostly due to tax. Ash, an anti-smoking nonprofit, believes that these price spikes caused some smokers to stop.
The Global Fight Against Smoking
New Zealand's smoking reduction program may have influenced the UK's. Previously, New Zealand intended to impose a lifetime tobacco sales ban on anyone born after 2008. The current administration scrapped this legislation in November 2023 to emphasize tax savings.
Other nations have robust anti-smoking policies. Mexico has among the world's strongest smoking laws, including on beaches, parks, and certain houses. Portugal hopes to eliminate tobacco sales in bars, cafés, and petrol stations by 2040 to create a "smoke-free generation." Canada became the first nation to require health warnings on cigarettes and expects to cut smoking rates below 5% by 2035.
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