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.
The point is prohibition doesn’t work. I would prefer no young person ever try cigarettes, or nicotine in any form. But I don’t think that’s realistic.
It works really well for kids. They aren’t even trying to ban it for adults.
Raising the age from 16 to 18 had a massive effect when I was young.
This will most likely dramatically decrease smoking in young people and that’s great.
It’s not 100% or nothing.
I’d love to be wrong about this. But I started smoking at 20, and while I’ve kicked cigarettes for good I couldn’t make quitting nicotine stick.
The difference is now you wouldn’t be able to buy it at 20 either.
You’d have to work pretty hard to get on cigarettes and hopefully most people just won’t bother.
Nicotine is still bullshit as are vapes. But as far as we know vapes are the lesser evil.
You know this, but nicotine isn’t the problem. It’s all the other crap in them.
Sure, but on another level yes, nicotine is a problem. It’s super fucking addictive and I hate my dependence on it. And harsher regulation on nicotine products in my area have ironically made it tougher to ween myself off.
I think that last point is an important one.
Banning things often does more harm than good. In your case “Nicotine Bad!” as a policy removes your options.