UK Parliament Backs Sunak's Cigarette Sale Ban to Post-2008 Born Amid Tory Split

April 16, 2024
UK Parliament Backs Sunak's Cigarette Sale Ban to Post-2008 Born Amid Tory Split
  • UK Parliament approves Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's proposal to ban cigarette sales to individuals born after January 1, 2009, with a vote of 383-67.

  • Significant opposition from within Sunak's Conservative Party, with 57 Tories voting against and 106 abstaining or absent.

  • High-profile Conservative MPs and former Prime Minister Liz Truss criticize the bill as virtue-signalling and overly controlling.

  • The bill's objective is to incrementally raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco to create a smoke-free generation, while also addressing the issue of youth vaping.

  • Despite Conservative opposition citing infringement on personal freedoms, the bill is supported by the Labour Party and must pass through additional legislative stages before potentially becoming law.

  • Concerns remain about the potential for a black market and the patronizing treatment of future adults, even as health advocates push for the bill's swift enactment before the next general election.

Summary based on 28 sources


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