Resistance mounts against UK PM Rishi Sunak’s proposed smoking ban | Global News

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing strong opposition to his plans to effectively ban smoking for anyone aged 15 and younger as a new bill comes up for a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Sunak proposed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill last year with the vision of creating a “smokefree generation” by making it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009, covering children aged 15. If passed, this legislation would introduce some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking laws in the country.

Despite opposition from some Conservative MPs, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins emphasized the importance of the bill, stating that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption and that the action is necessary to protect the next generation and save lives.

The ban aims to prevent people from smoking before they start, as statistics show that four in five smokers pick up the habit before the age of 20. The government plans to issue fines to shops selling tobacco or vapes to children, with the money raised going towards further enforcement.

Deborah Arnott, head of the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), hailed the legislation as historic and a step towards consigning smoking to the ‘ash heap of history’. The bill would also regulate youth vaping to make it less appealing to children.

While vaping can help adult smokers quit, the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care warned against non-smokers and children vaping due to unknown long-term health impacts and the highly addictive nature of nicotine. Smoking is the UK’s single biggest preventable killer, costing the economy billions annually.

If the bill passes, the UK will be one step closer to creating the first smoke-free generation, marking a significant milestone in public health efforts.