The United Kingdom gives the green light to the bill that will prohibit the sale of tobacco to those born since 2009. When approved, it moves closer to creating the first smoke-free generation
A person breaks a tobacco cigar in half / Europa Press Archive
United Kingdom has voted in favor of bill on tobacco and vaporizers which would criminalize the sale of tobacco products to any person born after January 1, 2009, that is, children who are currently 15 years old will not be able to buy tobacco. Although the law that intends to come into force starting April 2025will not penalize tobacco itself nor will it prevent anyone who can legally purchase tobacco today from doing so in the future.
“This bill is not about demonizing people who smoke or stopping them from buying tobacco if they can do so today. It will not in any way affect the rights or entitlements of current smokers and, in fact, we want to help them quit smoking. “We are supporting them by almost doubling the funding of local smoking cessation services,” he said. Victoria Atkin, Secretary of State for Health and Social Carein his defense before the Chamber of Deputies before approving the first reading of the law.
First generation smoke-free
Instead, he added, “this bill looks to the future to give the next generation the freedom to live longer, healthier and more productive lives.” With its approval, the United Kingdom is getting closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.
Through this bill, “we are creating a smoke-free generation that will ensure that no one turning 15 or younger this year will be sold tobacco legally, saving them from the misery of repeated attempts to quit, making our economy more productive and build an NHS that provides faster, simpler and fairer care,” he added.
To ensure compliance with the new rules, trading standards officers will be given new powers to impose fines on-site (fixed penalty notices) to retailers who illegally sell tobacco or vaporizers to children. All money raised would be used to fund new law enforcement measures.
The bill follows the government’s previously stated commitment to ban the sale and supply of disposable vaporizers under existing environmental legislation, which has been a key factor behind the rise in youth vaping. The ban is scheduled to take effect from April 2025.
The law also affects vaping
The project goes further and will also regulate the vaping since it “damages the future” of young people. “It could damage their lungs while they are still developing, intensify long-term pressure on our NHS and damage their concentration in schools. We cannot replace one generation addicted to nicotine with another and the vapers “They are cynically marketed towards our children,” he stated.
Furthermore, in his speech he recalled that they sell at very affordable prices, and share commercial space with sweets, they also have brands with cartoon characters and they are given flavors such as cotton candy and watermelon ice cream that make products attractive to customers. teenagers.
«Our children are being exploited and we cannot and will not allow this to continue. “That is why this bill will give us powers to crack down on child-friendly flavors and packaging and to change the way vaporizers are displayed in stores, measures on which we will consult,” he said.
