Age Limit for Cigarettes in Britain to Gradually Increase to 18, Leaving 15-Year-Olds Without Legal Access: Implications of PM Rishi Sunak’s New Tobacco Sales Ban

The new tobacco sales ban in Britain is set to gradually increase the age limit for purchasing cigarettes by one year each year. This means that 15-year-olds in the country will never be able to legally buy cigarettes in their lives. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a conservative, is pushing for these radical restrictions as part of his unconventional approach to governance that focuses on the long-term interests of the country.

At the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Sunak announced measures to curb the consumption of both electronic vape cigarettes and traditional smoking products among young people. The age limit for purchasing tobacco will increase annually from 2027, starting at 18 years old. This means that Brits who are currently under 15 years old will never be able to legally buy cigarettes in their lives.

Although there was some opposition within his party, the bill has passed the initial parliamentary hurdles with support from the Labor opposition. Sunak justifies the ban by citing the economic and health costs of tobacco consumption, which lead to around 80,000 deaths annually in the UK and cost the economy billions of pounds.

While some experts question its effectiveness, pointing out that smoking-related health problems can be linked to a variety of negative factors such as poverty and mental health issues, others believe it could have a significant impact on public health by reducing smoking rates among young people. However, enforcing age limits also raises practical concerns about retailers verifying customer ages and preventing smuggling across borders.

Sunak’s personal commitment to a smoke-free generation and support from a majority of voters has driven this bold move. However, it raises philosophical and legal questions about treating adults unequally under the law and enforcing arbitrary age limits on certain products like sugary goods or alcoholic beverages in future may also come under consideration.