UK Parliament passes landmark bill to create first smoke-free generation
London: In a major step for public health, the UK Parliament on Tuesday passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aiming to protect future generations from smoking-related harm.
Under the new law, children born after December 31, 2008 will be banned from ever buying cigarettes. The minimum age to purchase tobacco will rise each year, ensuring that most young people today will remain smoke-free for life.
The legislation will also allow the government to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, including flavours and packaging. It currently awaits approval from King Charles III before taking effect, which is a formality.
Health advocates welcomed the move after a decades-long campaign. “The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain — it’s inevitable,” said Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health.
The UK now has one of the world’s toughest anti-smoking measures. The number of smokers in Britain has already fallen by two-thirds since the 1970s, but about 6.4 million people, or 13% of the population, still smoke. Authorities say smoking causes some 80,000 deaths a year and remains the leading preventable cause of death and poor health.
“Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm,” Health Secretary Wes Streeting said.
The law builds on the existing ban on selling cigarettes, tobacco, or vapes to people under 18, extending protection to future generations.
