The Blubber

Britain's government has proposed banning younger generations from ever buying cigarettes.

If enacted into law, the legal age for purchasing tobacco would incrementally increase each year, potentially leading to a phased-out prevalence of smoking among the youth by as early as 2040, as outlined in a briefing paper.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shared this information at the Conservative Party conference, where he unveiled the proposal, emphasizing that, under this plan, a 14-year-old today would never legally be able to purchase cigarettes.

Sunak underscored that smoking imposes a substantial financial burden of £17 billion ($20.6 billion) annually on Britain's health services. He further emphasized the need for government action concerning youth vaping.

The government, as outlined in the briefing paper, intends to seek input on limiting the flavors and descriptions of vape products. Additionally, there will be an examination of regulations pertaining to the packaging and presentation of vape products.

The plans received support from the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health, which expressed optimism that Sunak's initiatives could expedite the point at which smoking becomes obsolete.

However, the tobacco industry criticized the proposals. The Tobacco Manufacturers Association argued that they represent a "disproportionate attack" on the rights of adults and could encourage black market trading. Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco raised concerns about the potential unintended consequences and difficulties in enforcing the proposed ban, respectively.