The UK Parliament has taken a significant step towards passing a bill that would ban anyone born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes.
Despite facing opposition from some prominent Tory figures, including former Prime Ministers, the measure championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak garnered enough support to pass with a vote of 383 to 67.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defended the proposed ban by emphasizing the importance of addressing addiction and promoting a smoke-free generation. If approved, the UK’s smoking regulations would become some of the strictest globally, drawing inspiration from a similar law in New Zealand that was later repealed.
During the debate in the House of Commons, concerns were raised about the potential infringement on personal freedom, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson labeling the ban as “absolutely nuts.” Different perspectives were voiced, with arguments for personal freedom and against infantilizing adults.
The bill also aims to make vapes less appealing to children by introducing new restrictions on flavors and packaging. Additionally, trading standards officers would be granted the authority to issue on-the-spot fines to shops selling tobacco or vapes to minors.
While the bill still needs to go through further stages before becoming law, Labour’s front bench support ensured its passage in the House of Commons. The potential implementation of the ban before the upcoming general election in 2024 remains a possibility.
Tobacco use is highlighted as the UK’s leading preventable cause of death, with smoking-related conditions resulting in thousands of deaths annually. The bill addresses the alarming rise in vaping among children, emphasizing the need to curtail underage usage.
