Tobacco British parliament votes on stricter smoking laws
The planned tough anti-tobacco law in the UK is to clear another hurdle. The second reading of the bill is scheduled for today in Parliament in London. The Social Democratic government has an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons.
26.11.2024, 01:27
SDA
Among other things, the bill stipulates that anyone born after January 1, 2009 will never be allowed to legally buy cigarettes in their lifetime. Instead, the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products will be raised by one year every year.
In addition, sweet flavors for e-cigarettes will be restricted and their packaging revised to make them less attractive to children and young people. A complete ban on advertising and sponsorship for so-called vapes is planned. Disposable e-cigarettes will be banned from June 2025 as part of separate environmental legislation.
Minister: Flavors of e-cigarettes target young people
"The number of minors vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention we will have a generation of young people who are addicted for a long time to come," said Health Minister Wes Streeting. "It is unacceptable that these harmful products with brightly colored packaging and flavors like 'gummy bears' and 'rainbow explosion' are being targeted at minors."
According to official figures, 80,000 people in the UK die every year as a result of smoking. The damage to the economy is estimated at the equivalent of 21.55 billion euros per year.
For the "Tobacco and Vapes Bill" to come into force, the House of Lords must also approve it after a total of three readings in the House of Commons.
