The sale of tobacco and vaporizers to people born after 1 January 2009 who are now aged 15 will become a criminal offense in the UK from April next year.
The measure was approved by Parliament on Tuesday evening and, according to Britain’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, aims to create the first smoke-free generation.
“We are creating a smoke-free generation that will ensure that this year no one aged 15 or under will legally buy tobacco, saving [estas pessoas] from the suffering of repeated attempts to quit smoking,” defended Victoria Atkin.
In addition, according to the person in charge, the legislation will make the economy “more productive and help build a National Health System that provides faster, easier and fairer health care.”
The law “is not intended to demonize people who smoke or discourage them from purchasing tobacco, and it will in no way affect the rights and prerogatives of current smokers,” he assured, adding that the goal is to help people quit smoking.
“We will also nearly double funding for local smoking cessation services,” the Secretary of State said, stressing that the legislation “looks to the future to give the next generation the freedom to live longer, healthier and more productive lives.”
To ensure compliance with the new rules, trading rules officials will be given new powers to impose fines on retailers who illegally sell tobacco or vaping products to this generation, and the money raised will be used to fund new enforcement measures.
The measure was approved following the government’s earlier commitment to ban the sale and supply of disposable vaporizers, which have been on the rise among young people.
Vaporizers “can damage young people’s lungs while they are still developing, add long-term pressure to the NHS and harm their concentration at school,” Victoria Atkin explained.
“We can’t replace a generation addicted to nicotine with another generation addicted to vaporizers,” he said, remembering that these devices are marketed cynically, sold at very affordable prices and alongside sweets decorated with cartoon characters and flavors such as cotton. . candies and watermelon ice cream.
“Our children are being exploited and we cannot and will not allow this to continue. That’s why this law will give us the opportunity to take decisive action against child-friendly flavors and packaging, as well as change the way vaporizers are displayed in stores,” the governor concluded. .
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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