Rishi Sunak mulls banning cigarettes in UK; 'Mission 2030' to be announced

LONDON: Certain reports suggest that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to put a ban on cigarettes in one of the world’s toughest anti-smoking measures ever planned. Government sources said that strict anti-smoking policies are being considered to prevent the next generation from buying tobacco products.

This is similar to the one implemented in New Zealand in December 2022. New Zealand has issued an order prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 1, 2009. According to a top media report, PM Sunak is emulating the New Zealand model to completely phase out smoking from the country by 2030.

The new policies by PM Sunak are mostly viewed as enticing the consumer voter base in Britain. Britain previously banned small retailers from providing cigarette samples to children. Councils in England and Wales have also called on the government to phase out single-use e-cigarettes by 2024, citing health and environmental concerns.