UK smoking ban: How will it work and who will be affected?

The Independent: The UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has announced plans to create a “smoke-free generation” by incrementally raising the legal smoking age by one year annually. This means that individuals who are 14 years old today will never be legally able to purchase cigarettes. This initiative was announced during the 2023 Conservative Party conference and reiterated by King Charles in his first State Opening of Parliament.

The plan also includes measures to restrict the availability of disposable vapes to children. The current UK law sets the legal age for purchasing tobacco products at 18, a limit set in 2007. The proposed ban would likely follow New Zealand’s example, which prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after a specified date. The government also intends to consult on measures to make vapes less appealing to children, targeting flavors, packaging, and sales displays. The initiative aims to reduce preventable deaths and diseases linked to smoking, with a goal to make England smoke-free by 2030.

However, the proposal has faced criticism from groups like Forest and former Prime Minister Liz Truss, citing concerns over personal freedom and the effectiveness of prohibition.

The entire article can be read at the link https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-phased-smoking-ban-kings-speech-b2443557.html