UK: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is contemplating the implementation of measures that would prohibit the next generation from purchasing cigarettes, as recently reported by The Guardian, citing government sources.
Sunak is exploring anti-smoking measures akin to those announced by New Zealand last year. These measures would include a ban on the sale of tobacco to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, as outlined in the report.
A spokesperson for the British government responded to Reuters via email, stating, they want to encourage more people to quit and meet the government’s ambition to make the country smoke-free by 2030, which is why it has already taken steps to reduce smoking rates. These steps include the distribution of free vape kits, a voucher programme designed to incentivise pregnant women to quit smoking, and ongoing consultations regarding mandatory cigarette pack inserts.
The spokesperson refrained from providing further comments on The Guardian's report.
The proposed policies are part of a new consumer-focused initiative led by Sunak's team in anticipation of next year's expected election, as detailed in the report.
In May, the UK announced its intention to close a loophole that allowed retailers to provide free samples of vapes to children as part of a crackdown on e-cigarettes. Additionally, in July, councils in England and Wales called upon the government to ban the sale of single-use vapes by 2024, citing both environmental and health concerns.