Overview

• The U.K.'s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, backed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, proposes to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes each year, starting with those born in 2009.
• Despite support from the Labour Party, the bill faces significant opposition from within the Conservative Party, with critics labeling it a 'nanny state' measure.
• Former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson have voiced strong opposition, with Johnson calling the ban 'absolutely nuts' and Truss criticizing it as 'profoundly unconservative.'
• Health experts argue the bill could save thousands of lives by preventing nicotine addiction among young people, with potential reductions in smoking-related diseases.
• The bill is inspired by similar legislation in New Zealand, which was repealed after concerns about enforcement and the creation of a black market.