UK passes 'landmark' anti-tobacco bill to create a ‘smoke-free’ generation
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- The UK has approved an anti-tobacco bill that permanently bans tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively creating a smoke-free generation by raising the legal age of sale annually.
- The legislation includes measures such as banning vaping in cars with children, playgrounds, and outside schools to protect youngsters from second-hand smoke and vaping.
- A University of Nottingham study projects the policy could add around 88,000 healthy life years by 2075 and reduce smoking prevalence among 12 to 30-year-olds to below 5% by the late 2040s.
- Smoking remains a leading global cause of death, responsible for over 7 million deaths annually, prompting many European countries to tighten tobacco and nicotine regulations recently.
- Similar measures include Belgium and Latvia banning disposable vapes in 2025, while Spain and France have restricted outdoor smoking in public spaces to curb youth smoking rates.
