**UK Government Moves Forward with Historic Legislation to Ban Future Generations from Smoking**

In a groundbreaking move, the UK government has initiated legislation designed to prevent the next generation of British children from ever legally purchasing cigarettes. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which began its parliamentary journey on Tuesday, also includes measures to restrict smoking and vaping in certain outdoor areas, including playgrounds and the entrances of schools and hospitals.

However, the proposed legislation has already seen some amendments due to opposition. A suggested ban on smoking in pub beer gardens was removed following objections from pub owners. Health Secretary Wes Streeting cited the recent hardships faced by the hospitality industry, noting that it was not the right time to implement such a restriction.

The scope of the bill extends beyond just smoking. It aims to tackle the appeal of vaping among children by restricting vape flavors and banning bright, child-friendly packaging. According to Streeting, the intention is to combat a "cynical industry that has sought to addict a new generation of children to nicotine."

A notable feature of the bill is its continuation of a previous plan to incrementally raise the minimum age for buying tobacco by one year each year. Consequently, anyone born after January 1, 2009, will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes in the UK, if the bill is passed. Currently, it is illegal to sell cigarettes, tobacco products, or vapes to individuals under 18.

With the governing Labour Party holding a large majority in Parliament, the bill is likely to pass, potentially granting the UK some of the world's strictest anti-smoking regulations. The government expressed that the bill is set to "break the cycle of addiction and paves the way for a smoke-free UK."

Despite the drop in smoking rates over the decades—falling by two-thirds since the 1970s—some 6.4 million people, or about 13% of the UK population, still smoke, according to official statistics. Authorities attribute approximately 80,000 deaths annually in the UK to smoking, which remains the leading preventable cause of death, disability, and poor health.