The House of Commons in the U.K. has approved a bill that will ban tobacco sales for individuals born in 2009 or later in an effort to create a “smoke-free generation” in the country. Despite opposition from some conservatives, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed with a 383-67 vote, restricting the sale of tobacco products to those born after Jan. 1, 2009, while not banning smoking outright.
The legislation will raise the legal age for tobacco sales by one year each year, but individuals who are currently able to purchase tobacco will still be able to do so if the bill becomes law. The bill also includes provisions regulating the marketing and packaging of vapes and other nicotine products to make them less appealing to children.
Despite some opposition within the Conservative Party, 178 members voted in favor of the bill, while all members from the left-leaning Labour Party supported the legislation. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized the smoking ban as “absolutely nuts,” while former Prime Minister Liz Truss called it emblematic of a “nanny state” that wants to limit people’s freedom.
Support for the smoking ban comes from health care officials and organizations, including Neil O’Brien, the U.K.’s public health minister, who believes the legislation will protect children from the harms associated with tobacco. Cancer Research UK’s executive director, Ian Walker, sees the bill as a critical step towards creating a generation free of tobacco.
In the U.K., about 12.9% of the population are smokers, with 6.4 million individuals using tobacco. Approximately 400,000 children aged 11 to 15 have tried smoking, leading to 80,000 deaths annually due to tobacco use. The British government estimates that the smoking ban will prevent over 470,000 cases of disease by the end of the century.
The House of Lords is expected to vote on the bill for final approval in June, with potential amendments including changes to the affected age group and licensing requirements for vape retailers. Sunak introduced the smoking ban last year, inspired by similar laws in New Zealand and other countries like Mexico and Portugal that have implemented strict anti-tobacco measures in recent years to create a healthier environment for future generations.
