UK Smoking Ban Clears Parliament

The passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill represents a historic shift in public health policy for the United Kingdom.

By raising the legal smoking age by one year every year, the law will eventually make it illegal for the entire adult population to purchase tobacco.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the move as a vital step in reducing preventable deaths and easing the long-term burden on the NHS. The bill also grants the government new powers to regulate the flavors and packaging of e-cigarettes to make them less appealing to children.