MANCHESTER: In an effort to combat smoking and its associated health risks, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday his commitment to introducing legislation that would incrementally raise the age limit for purchasing tobacco products.
Speaking at his Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester, Sunak emphasized that there was “no safe level of smoking” and outlined a strategy aimed at creating a smoke-free generation.
“I propose that in the future, we raise the smoking age by one year every year. That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette, and that they and their generation can grow up smoke-free,” declared Sunak during his keynote address.
Under the proposed legislation, it would become an offense to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, effectively increasing the smoking age by a year each year until it encompasses the entire population.
UK Aims to Phase Out Tobacco Smoking
A statement released by Sunak’s Downing Street office described this initiative as “historic” and outlined its potential to phase out smoking in young people almost entirely, possibly achieving this goal as early as 2040.
Additionally, the government plans to implement measures to curb vaping among young individuals. These measures may include restrictions on disposable vapes and regulations on flavors and packaging to diminish their appeal to children, Downing Street announced. By addressing both smoking and vaping, the government aims to create a healthier environment for the youth, promoting better public health outcomes and reducing the prevalence of smoking-related illnesses.
