British lawmakers will on Tuesday debate and vote on plans to introduce some of the world's strictest anti-smoking rules, including banning younger people from smoking.
British lawmakers will on Tuesday debate and vote on plans to introduce some of the world's strictest anti-smoking rules, including banning younger people from smoking.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to make vapes less appealing and would ensure anyone aged 15 this year, or younger, would be banned from ever buying cigarettes.
It would ban vape advertising and the sale of vapes in vending machines, as well as restricting vape packaging and flavours that overtly appeal to children and young people, such as bubble gum and cotton candy.
"The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we're going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction," said Labour health secretary Wes Streeting.
The previous Conservative government announced similar measures to create the first smoke-free generation. However, those plans failed to become law before the general election in the summer.
Britain banned smoking in almost all enclosed public spaces, including bars and workplaces, in 2007.
Subject to consultation, the new bill would give the government powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces, such as children's playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals.
The government previously abandoned plans for a ban on smoking outside pubs and cafes after concerns were raised about the impact on the hospitality industry.
The bill would introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products, and fines of 200 pounds ($251.04) to retailers found to be selling these products to people underage.
Expanding the use of standardised packaging to all tobacco products will also be explored.
"Tobacco still causes around 160 cancer cases every day in the UK," said Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK. "But with strong political will and bold action, these staggering numbers can be turned around."
If the bill passes on Tuesday, it would progress to the next parliamentary stage.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
Foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia and India raised concerns over export restrictions and economic coercion at a Quad meeting in Atlanta, U.S., on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to their joint statement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment