The UK is set to introduce a pioneering piece of public health legislation aimed at creating the world’s first “smoke-free generation,” with a new tobacco law to be presented in Parliament on Tuesday, November 5.
The move comes as part of the government’s broader strategy to curb smoking rates and reduce the long-term health burden on the National Health Service (NHS).
Under the new proposals, anyone born after January 1, 2009, will be prohibited from purchasing tobacco products, effectively making them the first generation in the UK who will never legally be able to buy cigarettes.
This gradual increase in the legal age to buy tobacco is a cornerstone of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which Health Secretary Wes Streeting described as a “groundbreaking” initiative.
“This is a groundbreaking piece of public health legislation,” Streeting said.
“It will mean that we are creating the first-ever smoke-free generation in our country. Children growing up in our country today will never, never legally be able to buy cigarettes.”
The bill, which mirrors proposals from the previous Conservative administration, aims to reduce smoking rates across the UK, following the failure of New Zealand’s similar plans to introduce a “generational smoking ban.”
New Zealand’s government reversed its decision last year under the leadership of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, citing other economic priorities.
In addition to the age restrictions on tobacco, the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce a series of measures aimed at curbing the appeal of e-cigarettes, particularly among young people.
The legislation will place strict limits on the advertising and sponsorship of vapes, as well as impose restrictions on vape packaging, flavours, and displays that may attract children and teenagers.
The government has also pledged to ban disposable vapes starting in 2025, a move designed to reduce the accessibility and appeal of single-use vaping products, which have become increasingly popular in the UK.
The proposed bill will also extend smoking bans to more public spaces, including outdoor areas such as playgrounds and hospital grounds. However, one notable exclusion is smoking in pub gardens.
Despite earlier leaks suggesting a potential ban on smoking in outdoor hospitality areas, Streeting confirmed that the legislation will not include pub gardens, citing concerns over the impact on the hospitality industry.
“The UK hospitality sector has taken a battering in recent years, and we don’t want to add to their pressure, so we’re not proposing to go ahead with an outdoor hospitality ban at this time,” Streeting said.
The UK government’s new law marks a significant step in the global fight against tobacco-related diseases.
Smoking rates have steadily declined in the UK over the past few decades, following landmark bans on smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces in 2007.
Research has shown that the smoking ban in England led to a 2.4% reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks in the year following its implementation, saving the NHS millions of pounds.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is expected to play a key role in achieving the UK’s ambition to reduce smoking rates even further, helping to prevent future generations from becoming addicted to nicotine and easing the long-term burden on the state healthcare system.
As the UK pushes ahead with its ambitious public health goals, it remains to be seen whether other countries, including New Zealand, will revisit similar measures in the future.
With the UK setting the pace, the idea of a “smoke-free generation” may soon be a reality elsewhere in the world.
