Khaberni - In a move described as "historic", the British Parliament has completed the ratification procedures on a bill that bans the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008.
Under the new legislation, aimed at creating the first "smoke-free generation" in UK history, it will not be legal to sell tobacco to any individual born on or after January 1, 2009. This means that the legal smoking age will be raised year by year automatically to ensure these products never reach the hands of young people and teenagers perpetually.
The law is set to come into effect officially once it receives the expected "Royal Assent" next week.
These measures are driven by shocking statistics where smoking alone causes about 400,000 hospital admissions and 64,000 deaths annually in England. It also costs the British healthcare system approximately 3 billion pounds sterling annually to treat diseases linked to tobacco such as cancer and heart diseases, while the total cost to the British society is about 27.6 billion pounds sterling annually due to loss of productivity.
The UK Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, commented on this achievement: "The children of the UK will be part of the first smoking-free generation, shielded from a long journey of addiction and harm."
He added: "Prevention is better than cure, and this reform will save lives, relieve pressure on the National Health System, and build a healthier Britain."
Strict measures against "Vaping"
The law does not only cover traditional cigarettes, but also grants ministers broad powers to ban the promotion of electronic cigarettes (vape) and nicotine products to children by changing branding and advertisements.
It also allows the expansion of smoking bans in public places to include children's playgrounds, areas surrounding schools and hospitals.
Despite widespread approval from health associations, the electronic cigarette sector has expressed concerns. Richard Begg, an expert at (VPZ), warned that excessive flavor restrictions could have counterproductive results and drive former smokers back to traditional tobacco or towards unregulated and black markets.
On the other hand, Hazel Cheeseman, the Chief Executive of Action on Health and Smoking, described the law as a "turning point," confirming that the end of the era of smoking and the devastation it causes is no longer just a possibility, but an inevitability, and that the focus now will be on quickly achieving this goal to save future generations.
It is noted that the bill started its long journey on the 5th of November 2024, passing through the House of Commons and finally receiving the approval from the House of Lords on Tuesday, becoming one of the strictest health laws in the world.
