UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is exploring the possibility of a strict ban on smoking for the next generation. If imposed, it would be some of the strictest anti-smoking measures in the world.
The news follows the announcement that the UK government is ready toban single-use vapes on the grounds of health and environmental concerns. It also comes after New Zealand implemented an annually rising smoking age, which will ultimately mean cigarettes and tobacco will never be legally sold to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
According to the Guardian, Sunak is looking to introduce a similar regime, which is all part of a new drive ahead of next year’s election. They reported that, when asked about the smoking ban, a government spokesperson said:
“Smoking is a deadly habit – it kills tens of thousands of people each year and places a huge burden on the NHS and the economy. We want to encourage more people to quit and meet our ambition to be smoke-free by 2030.”
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