他们被永久禁止买烟了？英国这项“跨世代禁令”正式通关
A historic public health law has passed its final stage in the UK Parliament, setting the stage for a lifetime ban on cigarette sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. The new legislation, known as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aims to create the country’s first “smoke-free generation” by gradually making it illegal for shops to sell tobacco products to those who are currently 17 or younger.
Once the bill receives formal approval, the government will have expanded powers to regulate not just cigarettes but also vapes(电子烟). This includes stricter controls on flavors, packaging, and where these products can be displayed. The move is designed to address smoking, which remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and serious illness across the nation.
The bill also extends existing smoke-free laws to cover vaping. Under the new rules, vaping will be banned in cars carrying children, on playgrounds, and outside school gates and hospitals. However, there are specific exceptions to support adults attempting to quit smoking; vaping will still be permitted in designated areas outside hospitals. The plans do not cover outdoor spaces like pub gardens or beaches, and people will still be free to smoke or vape inside their own homes.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the moment as a turning point for public health, emphasizing that prevention is better than cure. “This reform will ease pressure on the National Health Service and save lives,” he stated. Health officials stressed that this represents the most significant public health intervention in a generation.
While health charities have widely welcomed the move, some politicians have expressed concerns about the impact on retailers. Lord Naseby, a former lawmaker, argued that better education, rather than an outright ban, should be the solution to stopping young people from taking up the habit. However, health minister Baroness Merron assured Parliament that the government had worked closely with businesses to minimize disruption.
Sarah Sleet from the charity Asthma + Lung UK praised the bill as a chance to hold the tobacco industry accountable. She urged the government to ensure that current smokers are not ignored, calling for nationwide support services funded by a tax on tobacco companies.
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