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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is exploring the possibility of implementing measures that would prevent the next generation from ever purchasing cigarettes, as reported by The Guardian on Friday, citing sources within the government.
Sunak is examining anti-smoking strategies akin to those introduced by New Zealand last year, which encompass a prohibition on selling tobacco to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, according to the report.
“We aim to motivate more individuals to quit and achieve our goal of a smoke-free society by 2030. This is why we have already taken steps to decrease smoking rates,” stated a spokesperson from the British government in response to Reuters via email.
These measures encompass distributing free vape kits, a voucher initiative to encourage pregnant women to quit, and considering mandatory cigarette pack inserts, the spokesperson further added. They refrained from providing additional comments on The Guardian’s report.
The proposed policies are part of a fresh consumer-oriented initiative by Sunak’s team ahead of the anticipated election next year, the report noted.
In May, Britain announced its intention to close a loophole that allowed retailers to provide complimentary samples of vapes to minors, as part of a crackdown on e-cigarettes.
In a separate development, councils in England and Wales in July urged the government to prohibit the sale of disposable vapes by 2024, citing both environmental and health concerns.
