United News of Bangladesh

Britain has moved closer to phasing out smoking for good after Parliament approved a new law that will stop future generations from legally buying cigarettes. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, anyone born after December 31, 2008 will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes. The measure, described by supporters as a landmark step in public health policy, now only needs formal approval from King Charles III before becoming law. The law also gives the government wider powers to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, including rules on flavours and packaging. Smoking is already banned for people under 18 in the UK, but the new system will gradually raise the buying age each year, effectively shutting future generations out of legal cigarette access entirely. Health campaigners welcomed the decision. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said the move made the end of smoking “inevitable” after years of campaigning. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the policy would protect children from addiction, saying it would create “the first smoke-free generation.” Britain’s smoking rate has fallen sharply since the 1970s, but about 6.4 million people, or roughly 13 percent of the population, still smoke, according to official data. Authorities say smoking causes around 80,000 deaths every year and remains the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the country. The UK now joins a small group of countries taking strong legal steps to phase out smoking, although similar efforts in New Zealand were later rolled back.