Tue Nov 05 13:30:40 UTC 2024: ## UK Parliament Begins Journey Towards Smoke-Free Future

**London, November 5, 2024:** The UK Parliament has begun its journey towards a smoke-free future with the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This legislation aims to create a generation of children who will never legally be able to smoke, with a gradual increase in the legal smoking age, ultimately banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009.

The bill also includes provisions to restrict vape flavors and ban bright vape packaging, targeting what Health Secretary Wes Streeting described as “a cynical industry that has sought to addict a new generation of children to nicotine.”

Furthermore, the bill proposes to ban smoking and vaping in certain outdoor spaces, including playgrounds and the entrances to schools and hospitals. A planned ban on smoking in pub beer gardens was dropped, however, following opposition from bar owners. The Health Secretary acknowledged the difficult times the hospitality industry has faced recently, stating it was “not the right time” to implement such a ban.

If passed, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will solidify the UK’s position with some of the toughest anti-smoking measures globally, aiming to “break the cycle of addiction and pave the way for a smoke-free U.K,” according to government statements.

While the number of smokers in Britain has significantly decreased since the 1970s, approximately 13% of the population, or 6.4 million people, still smoke. Authorities highlight the significant health risks associated with smoking, with around 80,000 deaths annually attributed to the habit, making it the leading preventable cause of death, disability, and poor health in the UK.

The bill is expected to pass due to the governing Labour Party’s substantial majority in Parliament.

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