![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/smoking-could-be-banned-in-new-plans-to-phase-out-smokers-by-rishi-sunak/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_cigarette-in-the-hand.jpg&description=Rishi Sunak is in talks about introducing a new law similar to that brought in in New Zealand which would effectively make cigarettes unobtainable for the next generation Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in talks to bring in tougher anti-smoking laws to phase out the number of cigarette smokers, it has been reported. The laws, which would be among the toughest in the world on cigarettes, will effectively stop the next generation from being able to buy them, according to The Guardian. It follows laws enforced in New Zealand aimed at pushing cigarette smoking out of society. The laws introduced under previous Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's tenure mean cigarettes can only be sold by specially licensed tobacco merchants and have reduced the amount of nicotine in them. The country has also increased the smoking age, banning anyone born after January 1, 2009, from buying cigarettes. The idea of following in New Zealand's footsteps has been backed by Dr Javed Khan, who led a major review published on Friday into implementing similar rules. Dr Khan recommended "increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country". Introducing the law would mean the legal minimum age for buying tobacco rises with each year, gradually phasing people out from buying them altogether. Smoking-related diseases are currently estimated to cost the NHS £2.4billion each year - with a £17billion estimated cost to society as a whole. Labour has also previously said it would also consider a similar phasing-out approach, with Shadow Health Minister Wes Streeting claiming in January he was interested in finding out whether there was an "appetite for change". Health minister Neil O'Brien however appeared to reject adopting the New Zealand approach in April, when he said the Government's policy for achieving a smoke-free nation by its 2030 target would focus on "helping people to quit" rather than applying bans. The age requirement for buying ciga){kind=link}
Rishi Sunak is in talks about introducing a new law similar to that brought in in New Zealand which would effectively make cigarettes unobtainable for the next generation
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in talks to bring in tougher anti-smoking laws to phase out the number of cigarette smokers, it has been reported.
The laws, which would be among the toughest in the world on cigarettes, will effectively stop the next generation from being able to buy them, according to The Guardian. It follows laws enforced in New Zealand aimed at pushing cigarette smoking out of society.
The laws introduced under previous Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s tenure mean cigarettes can only be sold by specially licensed tobacco merchants and have reduced the amount of nicotine in them. The country has also increased the smoking age, banning anyone born after January 1, 2009, from buying cigarettes.
The idea of following in New Zealand’s footsteps has been backed by Dr Javed Khan, who led a major review published on Friday into implementing similar rules. Dr Khan recommended “increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country”.