The UK will implement the strictest anti smoking laws in the world to fulfill its commitment to eliminating adolescent smoking

According to Reuters, the UK government proposed a bill at a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday (March 20) to prohibit children aged 15 or younger from legally purchasing tobacco this year. If the bill is passed without modification, the Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Act will become one of the strictest anti smoking laws in the world.
The specific content of this bill is as follows:
1. Create the first smoke-free generation through the following methods:
Making it a criminal act to sell tobacco products to people born on or after January 1, 2009, gradually ceasing the sale of tobacco products, which means that anyone aged 15 or below by 2024 will never legally sell tobacco products;
Amend current legislation to stipulate that any person over the age of 18 who purchases tobacco products on behalf of a person born on or after January 1, 2009, and acts as an agent for purchasing, constitutes a criminal act;
Retailers are required to update their current sales age notification (or warning statement) to: "Selling tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 is illegal.".
2. Reduce the attractiveness and usability of electronic cigarette products:
The minister has regulatory powers, including taste, content, packaging, and product display;
It is illegal to sell nicotine free e-cigarette products to people under the age of 18 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland;
Prohibit the free distribution of e-cigarette products to teenagers under the age of 18 in England and Wales, and grant Northern Ireland the power to issue bans;
Expand the above measures to other nicotine products, such as nicotine bags.
3. Strengthen law enforcement efforts against minors selling tobacco and e-cigarettes:
Law enforcement agencies in England and Wales may issue fixed penalty notices of £ 100 for minors selling tobacco and e-cigarette products;
Continue to apply existing penalties to enable the Trade Standards Bureau to impose high fines on repeat offenders and implement restrictions on business premises and sales.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "In order to build a better future for our children, we need to address the biggest and preventable health threat - smoking." However, this bill was opposed by some members of the ruling party, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Despite opposition, the bill is expected to be passed, and the opposition Labour Party has expressed support for the measure.
The UK government has stated that smoking causes approximately £ 17 billion ($21.63 billion) in annual losses to healthcare services and the economy in the UK. At the same time, the surge in e-cigarette usage among teenagers and non-smokers has forced the UK government to consider increasing control measures.