Overview

• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed raising the legal age to buy cigarettes in England by one year every year to phase out smoking.
• The incremental age increases would prevent those under 14 today from ever legally purchasing cigarettes.
• The proposed law aims to create a smoke-free generation in the country and reduce smoking-related deaths.
• The legal changes would only apply in England and do not cover vaping products.
• Some critics question the effectiveness of bans in reducing smoking rates and argue they create illegal markets.