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
  • Cataphract@lemmy.mlEnglish
    165·
    12 hours ago

    I’m imagining the last person alive to be eligible to smoke going on a grand journey to the last place selling the last pack of smokes in the country. I think this law is so ass backwards and does nothing about addressing people’s concerns including the comments made in here.

    Healthcare concern? Tax it, a single use isn’t going to put a strain on the healthcare system. Make sure lifetime smokers have paid in more than their fair share.

    Age limit? What’s the current UK view on alcohol? You can’t just cherry-pick drugs and regulations if you’re trying to make sense.

    Vape and smoke indistinguishable? Sure, but lets add additional tax onto ANYTHING that creates pollutants. It being illegal in cars is kinda ironic and hilarious. Especially from those living near industrial sites with bad water and smog effects, has the government made sure those companies are paying their fair share or restricting what they release because of the children?

    I’m all for people’s opinions and ideas shared, I just don’t like governments that target civilian freedoms more than corporate profits when they’ve had the chance for the past hundred years. Let the people decide, local jurisdictions banning areas and businesses opting out are completely fine with me. Playing this weird game of “sorry you were born a day too late to be eligible” is weird. Ban it all or not, let the cards lay. Too much wiggle room/cost for enforcement for this to be anything useful and will probably just be thrown out at a later date wasting everyone’s time.

    • 7101334@lemmy.worldEnglish
      32·
      8 hours ago

      I agree with everything you said, and also… if you want people to smoke less tobacco, legalize cannabis.

      I saw someone smoking a cigarette for the first time in years the other day, here in California, and it was odd to realize that it’s not something you really see anymore. Maybe heavily-exploited service workers on their breaks and such, but even that isn’t super common at the warehouse jobs I’ve worked.

      They’re also taxed to shit here, which I agree is stupid to prioritize over corporate evils, but it was at least some part “better alternative” and not just “prohibition”.