By passing the bill, Britain moves closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.
Britain voted on Tuesday in favor of the bill on tobacco and vaporizers which I would classify as crime the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009. In other words, children who are currently 15 years old will not be able to purchase tobacco; although the law it wants to come into force from April 2025 It will not punish tobacco itself, nor will it prevent anyone who can legally purchase tobacco now 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 in no 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 funding for local smoking cessation services,” he said. Victoria AtkinSecretary of State for Health and Social Care, before passing the first reading of the bill.
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 his approval, Britain moves closer to establishing the smoke-free first generation.
With this bill, “we are creating a smoke-free generation that will ensure that no one turning 15 or younger this year will be legally sold tobacco, saving them from the misery of repeated attempts to quit, making our economy more productive and 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 impose on-the-spot fines (fixed fines) to retailers who illegally sell tobacco or vapes to children. All money raised would be used to fund new law enforcement measures.
The bill follows the government’s previously stated commitment prohibit the sale and supply of evaporators disposable under existing environmental legislation, which has been a key factor behind the increase in vaping among young people. The ban is expected to come into effect from April 2025.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
