REEM IBRAHIM: If the world's biggest nanny state won't ban smoking, how does ... trends now
Parliament last night voted to ban tobacco sales for anyone born on or after 1st January 2009, in a landmark move.
Rishi Sunak — the architect of Britain's hotly-contested policy — said the goal was to prevent tomorrow's children from taking up cigarettes, effectively creating a 'smoke-free' generation that kills off the tobacco industry for good.
But how on earth does he plan on enforcing it? Even the world's biggest nanny state, New Zealand, had to bin the very same proposal.
The idea was first proposed by ex-Kiwi prime minister Jacinda Arden in the dying days of her premiership.
It came shortly after she and her left-leaning administration adopted some of the most draconian and damaging lockdowns in the world, with New Zealand turned into a 'hermit kingdom' with borders completely shut under the false belief that such a tough stance would keep Covid out.
Reem Ibrahim: 'Rishi Sunak — the architect of Britain's hotly-contested policy — said the goal was to prevent tomorrow's children from taking up cigarettes, effectively creating a 'smoke-free' generation that kills off the tobacco industry for good. But how on earth does he plan on enforcing it?'
The idea was first proposed by ex-Kiwi prime minister Jacinda Arden in the dying days of her premiership. It came shortly after she and her left-leaning administration adopted some of the most draconian and damaging lockdowns in the world, with New Zealand turned into a 'hermit kingdom'
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2023 health report showed 12.7 per cent of Brits over the age of 15 smoke cigarettes daily, far higher than the US and New Zealand, the latter of which recently introduced a similar phased smoking ban
Following a recent change of heart, New Zealand scrapped the plans, meaning that the UK is now going at it alone.
The Kiwi turnaround came just weeks after the Malaysian government abandoned a similar policy due to their constitutional protection against age discrimination.
Christopher Luxon, New Zealand's new prime minister, explained the ban would have created an 'opportunity for a black market to emerge', fearing it would cost the Government around $1billion (£470m) in lost revenues.
Ironically, many younger Brits will likely keep smoking but without having to pay the levies associated with
