"UK Parliament Passes Historic Tobacco Bill for Smoke-Free Generation"
The British government's proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aimed at creating the first "smoke-free generation" by banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008, has passed its first parliamentary hurdle despite opposition from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party. The bill also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping. While praised by health experts and the opposition Labour Party, some Conservative lawmakers criticized the proposals as "unconservative," arguing that it limits personal freedoms and risks creating a black market. If passed, the bill will gradually raise the legal age of sale for cigarettes until it becomes illegal for the entire population, with the aim of implementation by 2027.