London: The United Kingdom’s Parliament has greenlit stringent measures aimed at eradicating smoking, marking a significant step towards creating a “smoke-free” generation in the country, signaling a pivotal moment in the nation’s public health agenda.
In a decisive move, MPs voted 383-67 in favor of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The proposed smoking ban targets the sale of cigarettes rather than the act of smoking itself. The bill aims to phase out tobacco sales, recognizing smoking as a leading cause of cancer deaths in Britain.
The legislation, which now awaits approval from the House of Lords, seeks to raise the legal age limit for purchasing tobacco progressively. Under the new legislation, the legal age for purchasing cigarettes, presently set at 18, will incrementally increase by one year annually. This progressive approach will ensure that individuals born in or after 2009 will never legally acquire cigarettes, effectively imposing a ban.
To combat underage sales, the government plans to introduce stringent measures, including £100 on-the-spot fines for retailers found selling tobacco and vapes to minors in England and Wales. Additionally, courts retain the authority to impose fines of up to £2,500 for non-compliance. The proceeds from fines will be reinvested by local authorities to bolster enforcement efforts.
The government has allocated £30 million for enforcement, with a focus on tackling the availability of cigarettes on the black market. The new regulations will extend to all duty-free shops in the UK. However, individuals purchasing cigarettes abroad may bring them back to the UK if legally acquired elsewhere.
The government aims to implement the new system by 2027, with Prime Minister Sunak expressing his intention to collaborate with the governments of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to enact uniform legislation across the UK.
If implemented as intended, the government anticipates that smoking among young people would be eradicated by 2040, ushering in a new era of public health in the UK.
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