The generational tobacco ban debate

On 16 April, the House of Commons are scheduled to debate the plan that will prohibit anyone born after 2009 from legally buying tobacco products, ever again. Criticism for the ban has been widespread, with former Prime Ministers weighing in. Liz Truss called the proposal “profoundly unconservative,” while Boris Johnson commented that: “We are, on the whole, in favor of freedom and it is that single Anglo-Saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives. And when I look at some of the things that we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they are absolutely nuts.”

Victoria Atkins, Health and Social Care Secretary, defended the ban by saying: “We just want to stop our children from buying [cigarettes], and protecting children is a very conservative value,” saying that raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products will also reduce the demand on the NHS.