A draft law in the UK to create a "smoke-free generation" by banning smoking for anybody born after 2008 has cleared both houses of parliament. Only the king's signature remains for it to become law.
  • Technically, the new law will raise the legal age requirement in the UK for buying cigarettes, cigars or tobacco, which is currently 18, by one year in every subsequent year, starting on January 1, 2027
  • This will effectively mean that people born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be eligible to buy them
  • Retailers will face financial penalties for selling the products to those not entitled to them
  • The government will also be empowered to impose a new registration system for smoking and vaping products entering the country, seeking to improve oversight
  • The bill will expand the UK’s indoor smoking ban to a series of outdoor public spaces, for instance in children’s playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals
  • Most indoor spaces that are designated smoke-free will become vape-free as well
  • Smoking in designated areas outside pubs and bars and other hospitality settings will remain permissible
  • Smoking and vaping will remain legal in people’s homes
  • Vaping will become illegal in cars if someone under the age of 18 is inside, to match existing rules on smoking
  • Advertising for smoking and vaping products will be banned
  • People aged 18 or older will remain eligible to purchase vaping products, but some items targeted at younger consumers like disposable vapes have already been outlawed as part of the program
  • sonofearth@lemmy.worldEnglish
    195·
    12 hours ago

    This is a stupid decision. Prohibition has never worked. Instead there will be more illegal, unsafe and unregulated cigarettes that the newer generations will smoke which will be more harmful while at the same time losing tax revenues and an increase in policing costs.

    A better solution will be just to tax the shit out of these products and fund healthcare with it.

      • sonofearth@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        4 hours ago

        I agree because they are more difficult and expensive to manufacture than tobacco products for which you can just exploit workers in countries like India.

    • SirActionSack@aussie.zoneEnglish
      5·
      11 hours ago

      Taxing the shit out of it also results in a large black market and disproportionately affects low income households.

      • sonofearth@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        8 hours ago

        With higher taxes on tobacco products, the black markets will be much less accessed as there will by 2 modes of supplies. If I as a smoker know I get better quality of cigarettes with the tax, i will opt for that and the government would get to earn a revenue from those who are killing themselves.