The UK is about to create its first “smoke-free generation.”
After the Government announced its intentions in 2024, the House of Commons and Lords have now agreed on a final draft of the legislation that will ban anyone born after 2008 from buying cigarettes.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop anyone born after 1 January 2009 (that’s any child aged 17 and younger) from purchasing tobacco-related products, and is now awaiting Royal Assent before it becomes law.
The UK will join the Maldives as the only other country in the world with a generational tobacco ban, which has already stopped young people born after 2006 from smoking.
Why ban smoking?
Smoking is not only responsible for around 80,000 deaths a year in the UK, but substantially increases the risk of major health conditions—like strokes, diabetes, heart disease, stillbirth, dementia and asthma.
This puts a huge amount of pressure on the NHS, costing taxpayers up to £3.1 billion a year, and takes up to 75,000 GP appointments each month, or over 100 every hour.
What else does the Tobacco and Vapes Bill do?
The Bill will also hand new powers to the Government to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products—this includes flavours and packaging—and make provision about smoke-free places.
While tougher restrictions on smokers outside pub gardens and restaurants had previously been considered, these places will not be affected.
Vaping will be banned in cars carrying children, in playgrounds, and outside schools and at hospitals; however, vaping will still be allowed outside hospitals.
Health minister Baroness Merron called it “a landmark Bill, it will create a smoke-free generation. It is, in fact, the biggest public health intervention in a generation, and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives.”
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