Attention all British middle schoolers! If you were hoping for the day when you could casually stroll into Tesco and legally purchase a pack of cigarettes, I have some bad news for you. It looks like that day will never come. Rishi Sunak, the UK prime minister, recently unveiled a plan at a Conservative Party conference that aims to gradually increase the smoking age by one year each year until smoking becomes completely illegal. Currently, individuals must be at least 18 years old to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in the United Kingdom. Sunak’s proposal takes inspiration from a similar law passed in New Zealand last year, which prohibits anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, from purchasing tobacco products—even when they reach adulthood.
If Sunak’s plan is approved by Parliament, it will cover all children in England who turned 14 this year and younger. However, the legislation would not apply to individuals in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. According to Reuters, Sunak declared at the conference, “A 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette.” It’s important to note that this proposed legislation does not aim to criminalize smoking in the United Kingdom, where approximately 13% of the population still smokes. “People typically start smoking when they’re young,” Sunak explained. “Later on, the majority try to quit… If we can prevent the start of this harmful cycle, then we can make significant strides in ending the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our country.” Sunak also expressed his desire to implement new restrictions to combat vaping among young people.
Smoking-related healthcare costs in Britain amount to a staggering $20.6 billion each year, as reported by Reuters. Unsurprisingly, the tobacco industry is not thrilled about Sunak’s plan. The Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association criticized it as a “disproportionate attack” on the rights of adult smokers. The group warned that banning legal products can have dangerous consequences and create opportunities for illegal sales by criminal gangs. There is concern within the industry that other countries may follow suit, as Denmark is already considering similar measures. The UK government has been taking multiple steps to combat smoking addiction, including a “swap to stop” program that provides smokers with free vape kits and vouchers to support pregnant women in quitting smoking. Sunak’s proposal must now go through a free vote in Parliament to become law. (Read more cigarettes stories.)
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