Great Britain is poised to enact stringent measures to curb smoking, sparking controversy within the ruling party. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government presented a bill to Parliament in London on Tuesday, aiming to incrementally raise the minimum smoking age each year until tobacco consumption is eradicated nationwide. Under the proposed legislation, the sale of tobacco products to individuals born after January 1, 2009, would be prohibited entirely.

Sunak emphasized that there is no safe age for smoking, asserting that the initiative aims to ensure that all children and young people born after January 1, 2009, and future generations, grow up without exposure to cigarettes. However, the government clarified that while the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes would gradually increase, current smokers of legal age would not be affected.

Despite securing a majority vote for a second reading in Parliament, the bill faced opposition within Sunak's Conservative Party, with 57 MPs, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, voting against it. Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom defended the measure, rejecting claims of excessive control and emphasizing the importance of enabling children to avoid nicotine addiction.

Currently, the minimum age to buy cigarettes in the UK is 18, with tobacco use being the leading preventable cause of death and a significant contributor to cancer mortality. The economic burden of smoking-related healthcare costs amounts to nearly 20 billion euros annually, according to government data.

In contrast to New Zealand, where a similar law introduced by the Labor Party was swiftly overturned by a conservative government, the proposed smoking ban in Great Britain enjoys bipartisan support. The Conservative-led initiative has garnered backing from the opposition Labour Party, which had previously proposed a phased smoking ban.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting criticized Sunak for allowing a free vote on the bill, accusing him of capitulating to the conservative faction within his party. Streeting emphasized Labour's longstanding advocacy for tobacco control measures and attributed the bill's passage to support from Labour MPs.

As Great Britain navigates the path toward a smoke-free future, the proposed smoking ban represents a significant step in addressing public health concerns and reducing the societal and economic burden of tobacco use. However, the divisive nature of the issue underscores the challenges inherent in enacting comprehensive tobacco control policies.

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