London, Apr 23:
The UK Parliament has passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, a landmark law aimed at gradually eliminating smoking for future generations. Under the legislation, children born after December 31, 2008, will be permanently banned from legally buying cigarettes, effectively creating a “smoke-free generation.” The law now awaits royal assent from King Charles III, which is considered a formality. The bill also grants the government broader powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, including control over flavours and packaging. While selling tobacco to under-18s is already illegal, the new law goes further by progressively raising the legal buying age each year, eventually phasing out cigarette access entirely for younger generations. Health advocates welcomed the move, calling it a major step in reducing addiction and related deaths. Smoking rates in the UK have fallen significantly since the 1970s, but around 6.4 million people still smoke. Authorities estimate smoking causes about 80,000 deaths annually in the country.