A landmark bill banning everyone born after 2008 in the UK from buying cigarettes has officially cleared Parliament.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce a lifelong ban on buying tobacco for those currently aged 17 or younger, in an effort to create a 'smoke-free generation'.
Now, we know that smoking has forever been a controversial habit thanks to its damaging health effects, but this new legislation is designed to take away the option and stop people who were born on or after January 1 2009, from ever taking up smoking.
You read that right - it means they'll never be able to purchase a cigarette in their lifetime.
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Both the Commons and Lords have settled on a final draft of the bill, and it will officially become legislation when it receives royal assent next week.
When this happens, ministers will also get new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, including their flavours and packaging.
Health minister Baroness Merron told the Lords on Monday (20 April): "This afternoon marks the end of this Bill’s journey throughout Parliament. It is a landmark Bill, it will create a smoke-free generation.
“It is, in fact, the biggest public health intervention in a generation, and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives."
Wes Streeting, the UK's Health Secretary, added: "This is a historic moment for the nation’s health as the tobacco and vapes bill ends its journey through parliament.
"Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm. Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain."
The landmark legislation will also give ministers powers to strengthen the existing ban on smoking in public places, extending it to children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals.
Hazel Cheeseman, the chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: "This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain - it’s inevitable. And the focus now is on how soon we get there."
She added: "Over the past half-century, smoking has claimed millions of lives across the UK, leaving a legacy of preventable pain and loss. Ending its harm is a lasting gift to generations ahead, and families everywhere can now feel secure that their children can grow up free from the harm of tobacco."
The new bill is part of a wider series of measures from the government that are aimed at tackling the health effects of smoking
What are the dangers of smoking?
As per the anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year and harming nearly every organ of the body.
The NHS warns that smoking can cause hearing and vision loss, dementia, damage to your joints, high blood pressure, and digestive issues, to name just a few effects.
It can also cause serious heart and lung diseases, cancer, and other health issues.
Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said: "Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer in the UK and stopping completely is the best thing you can do for your health. As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill progresses through parliament, a future free from the harms of tobacco is closer than ever.
"Alongside this historic legislation, it's essential that stop smoking support continues to be sustainably funded to help millions of people in the UK who currently smoke. I urge the UK Government to help ensure everyone has access to the services and encouragement they need to help them quit smoking for good.”
You can find information on NHS stop smoking services here.
Madison Burgess