UK, Labour government proposes crackdown on smoking

he British Labour government is tabling a bill in Parliament today that introduces a major crackdown on smoking in the UK - with a ban on tobacco purchases for everyone born from January 2009 onwards so as to reach the first 'smoke-free generation' - and also restricts the spread of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), particularly among young people, after the already announced ban on disposable cigarettes from next June.

The measure, called the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, had been put in the pipeline at the time by Rishi Sunak's former Conservative executive, but failed to complete the parliamentary process before the 4 July elections, and had also been taken up by Keir Starmer's new Labour government in recent months.

Among the measures contained in the bill is a ban on smoking in children's playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals in England, and in some places the 'vaping' of e-cigs is also banned, the marketing of which is also restricted. On the other hand, there is no ban on smoking in pub gardens so as not to further penalise a sector that has been in crisis for some time and is already suffering from the long-term effects of the pandemic and the high cost of living.

"This is a pioneering piece of legislation in public health. In this way we are creating the first smoke-free generation in our country," said Health Minister Wes Streeting.