Summary

The UK has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aiming to make it illegal for future generations to buy cigarettes. The bill proposes gradually raising the minimum smoking age, so those born after January 1, 2009, will never be able to purchase tobacco legally.

It also includes restrictions on vape flavors and packaging to prevent youth addiction and bans smoking in certain outdoor spaces, though pub beer gardens are exempt.

Supported by the Labour Party’s majority, the legislation seeks to create a “smoke-free U.K.” and combat smoking-related deaths.

  • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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    22 hours ago

    And then what about everything outside of that ridiculous context? Arrest people for possession of a plant? That’s always been a good idea.

    Tobacco is important to people. If you ban it, there will be a black market. Especially for something like a plant that can simply be grown.

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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      19 hours ago

      Ban the sale of it. That’s it. You want to cultivate it yourself, no problem. Share it with friends and family, OK. Just no more industrialized tobacco.

      There will be a black market. So what? The problem isn’t that people are using it. The problem is ubiquity. A black market isn’t nearly as ubiquitous as selling it in every shop across the country.

      • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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        22 hours ago

        You’re talking about making it a prescription drug only allowed for cessation purposes. That sure sounds like a ban on recreational use to me. What happens when someone without a prescription is caught with tobacco under this system you’re proposing? What makes this preferable to just letting people smoke?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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          22 hours ago

          That sure sounds like a ban on recreational use to me.

          You said nothing about recreational use. But something that overloads the healthcare system and costs a ton of money should not be allowed freely for recreational use.

          https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/12/hospital-admissions-due-to-smoking-up-nearly-5-per-cent-last-year-nhs-data-shows/

          https://ash.org.uk/media-centre/news/press-releases/smoking-costs-society-17bn-5bn-more-than-previously-estimated

          What happens when someone without a prescription is caught with tobacco under this system you’re proposing?

          A fine. Like many things that people do that are illegal. Are you under the bizarre impression that the only possible thing you can do to someone who commits a crime is imprison them?

          What makes this preferable to just letting people smoke?

          It helps them quit. Which is good. See above, re overloading the healthcare system and costing a ton of money.

          • minibyte@sh.itjust.works
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            22 hours ago

            Are you under the bizarre impression that the only possible thing you can do to someone who commits a crime is imprison them?

            You’re replying to an American. So, yes.

          • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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            18 hours ago

            Are you under the bizarre impression that the only possible thing you can do to someone who commits a crime is imprison them?

            I didn’t say anything about imprisoning people. Any legal consequence for possession of a plant is too far.

            It helps them quit.

            It leverages a nanny state that forces people to quit whether they want to or not.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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              15 hours ago

              When British taxpayers are the ones paying for the smokers’ illnesses, whether or not they personally want to quit is not the issue. You do know how socialized medicine works, yes? British nonsmokers should not have to foot the bill when they get emphysema or lung cancer.

              I don’t know why you think they should.

              • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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                9 hours ago

                Universal healthcare doesn’t give you license to police everyone else’s lifestyle to your preferred level of health-consciousness.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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                  9 hours ago

                  Costing the British taxpayers money for the sake of your disease-causing pleasure is some real nonsense. If you want to argue that smoking-related diseases should be exempt from the NHS, fine. But you want to have your cigarette and smoke it too.

                  • Dontfearthereaper123@lemm.ee
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                    6 hours ago

                    I suppose i wouldnt oppose a ban like that in theory, but because doctors rnt omniscient, in practice, you’d end up with either, smokers not being treated for illnesses completely unrelated to their smoking, or non smokers not being treated because doctors think its related to smoking. I mean how could u tell for 100% certain someone is a smoker, I can bet theres smokers out there w still perfectly white teeth etc and non smokers whos lungs r black from car exhausts. Is it really worth letting a non smoker die js because you dont wanna pay for the smoker too? Its hardly like people r gonna be honest abt smoking when they won’t get free healthcare for it