- 6
- 05.10.2023 15:08:00
- 2 min read
The UK government plans to introduce a bill to parliament that would ban the sale of tobacco products to people born after January 1, 2009.
According to the British government's website, the minimum age for selling tobacco will be raised by one year every year until the ban applies to the entire population of the country. Officials expect that the introduction of the ban will make it possible to almost completely stop smoking among young people by 2040.
"I want to build a better and brighter future for our children, so I want to completely eliminate smoking. These changes will ensure that our children will never be able to buy cigarettes, prevent them from becoming addicted to smoking, and protect their health now and in the future," said UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the author of the initiative.
In Great Britain, the age of 18 is allowed to buy tobacco, and according to the government, about 64 thousand people die every year due to the consequences of smoking. About 75,000 citizens visit doctors every month due to smoking-related diseases. Every year, the country's economy loses around £17 billion (about $21 billion) in lost income due to smoking-related unemployment, premature death and health costs.
New Zealand was the first country to completely ban the sale of tobacco to citizens over a certain age. In December 2022, the country's parliament adopted a law banning the sale of tobacco to people born after January 1, 2009.
Source: Daryo.uz
