The UK Parliament passes legislation: Those born after 2008 will be prohibited from purchasing tobacco for life.

According to a report by UK media on the 21st, both houses of the UK Parliament have approved the “Tobacco and E-Cigarette Bill,” which permanently bans minors aged 17 and under from purchasing cigarettes. The bill stipulates that it is illegal for businesses to sell tobacco products to people born on or after January 1, 2009. This move aims to eliminate smoking among this demographic and create a smoke-free generation. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting described this as a “historic moment for public health,” aiming to create the “first generation of non-smokers” and protect them from lifelong addiction and the harms of tobacco. Once the bill becomes law, the UK government has the authority to extend indoor smoking bans to public areas such as children’s playgrounds, schools, and outside hospitals; restrict flavors and packaging of e-cigarettes; and prohibit vaping in places where smoking is already banned. Data from the UK’s National Health Service shows that approximately 75k people die from smoking in England each year, accounting for about a quarter of all deaths. In 2022, New Zealand became the first country to enact such legislation, also banning the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2008; however, less than a year after implementation, the law was repealed following a change in government. In November 2025, the Maldives announced a ban on selling cigarettes to people born after January 1, 2007. (Xinhua News Agency)