UK Tobacco Ban On The Way

[beerandbaccy]

So It looks as though a full ban on tobacco being sold to anyone born on or after 2009 will be going ahead as it passed its first hurdle in parliament MPs back smoking ban for those born after 2009 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68824493

My thoughts:

Am I glad my two children will be far less likely to start smoking cigarettes?
Definitely yes. I wish I had never started and just had the occasional cigar or pipe rather than 20/30 a day that I smoked in my teens and 20s.

Infringement on personal liberty?
Yes! I believe in freedom of choice alongside good access to health education so people make informed decision. Generations of smokers probably started on cigarettes without a clue what the dangers are.

Enforceable ?
It will be almost impossible when those in the cutoff age (like my daughter) turn 30 or 40 and someone a year or two older can buy tobacco. The requirement on shops and websites will be impossible to monitor and check.

Will it eventually mean further reduction in Pipe tobacco and cigar choices as we get older?
Definitely yes. The UK market will become increasingly reduced and difficult to sell to so I can't see pipe tobacco producers bothering in 20 years or so. (The last 5 years have already seen elevated costs of import from Europe and we have lost some brands)

It's a law against cigarette smokers and I think cigar and pipe smokers are collateral damage!! Other countries watch this space as if it's successful I'm sure others will follow...

 

[Roach1]

I agree with your sentiment. I would comment but I better hold my tongue.

 

[jaingorenard]

I've seen people saying things like 'I'm glad this has happened for cigarettes, but pipes and cigars should be exempt!'. I think this misses the key point, which is about freedom of choice (including to smoke cigarettes). Also, without cigarette companies to sell most tobacco crop to, farmers just won't bother growing it. You may still get cigars (at ever higher prices), but pipe tobacco could disappear.

Edited to make clear that I'm talking about a future where other countries followed this lead, which may not happen. Even if not, I suspect as you say that tobacco companies will cease to sell to the UK market.

 

[beerandbaccy]

I've seen people saying things like 'I'm glad this has happened for cigarettes, but pipes and cigars should be exempt!'. I think this misses the key point, which is about freedom of choice (including to smoke cigarettes). Also, without cigarette companies to sell most tobacco crop to, farmers just won't bother growing it. You may still get cigars (at ever higher prices), but pipe tobacco could disappear.

Edited to make clear that I'm talking about a future where other countries followed this lead, which may not happen. Even if not, I suspect as you say that tobacco companies will cease to sell to the UK market.

I agree with you. I am in favour of freedom of choice, (just not for my children)

 

[Sigmund]

I just wish I was born after 2009!

 

[Roach1]

I agree with you. I am in favour of freedom of choice, (just not for my children)

As any parent should.

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

This won't impact any of us. Unless anyone is under 5, tobacco will be sold here until our last days. There may only be a few generations of pipe smokers left, but we'll always be able to get ours I reckon.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

In England likewise as in Finland, they almost prohibited access to owning Guns , and now ,I see they are planning to kill tobacco industry and eventually independent tobacconist stores as well.And as of now, in order to raise some money to budget our Gov has decided to increase our national VAT level to a whopping % 25 which will be then new record in Europe,

 

[karam]

in order to raise some money to budget our Gov has decided to increase our national VAT level to a whopping % 25 which will be then new record in Europe,

I thought you Scandies are excited about and crave more taxes

 

[PipeIT]

I always saw smoking in its various forms very British.

Can we all imagine a world without Churchill and his cigars.

I really thought Europe was a world, where smoking would always thrive, because I assumed, their perceptions of Life were different, in regards to the so called good life, and indulging in fine food, drink and smoke.

hmm

 

[revnatorade]

This is sad news. You need a Paul Revere over there you could have a London Tobacco party.

 

[PipeIT]

 

[Searock Fan]

Just like prohibition in the U.S., everything will be just fine....

 

[hakchuma]

I’ve cellared enough for

Just like prohibition in the U.S., everything will be just fine....

View attachment 305926

it‘ was probably a lot harder to stop a bunch of drunks than it is to stop a few old farts smoking pipes on their porch. Besides, now they make you dig deeper into your wallet and they know that works better. They’ve taken a lot of my money recentl.

 

[kcghost]

Well, this will if passed. It's what happens when you decide to elect a do-gooder PM instead of somebody who has a lick of sense. And, yes, they can control it. If they make it illegal to manufacture tobacco products or import it will be a tough law to break.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

New Zealand were the first to pass a law like this and they've just repealed it.

New Zealand repeals world-first smoking ban passed by Jacinda Ardern

Reversal of smoking ban criticised as ‘shameful’ for lacking evidence

www.independent.co.uk

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Well, this will if passed. It's what happens when you decide to elect a do-gooder PM instead of somebody who has a lick of sense. And, yes, they can control it. If they make it illegal to manufacture tobacco products or import it will be a tough law to break.

I don't agree with that. In England the price of cigarettes has been going up and up over the last 20 years. A pack of cigarettes is now £15 - £16. Running parallel to this has been the rise of illegal cigarettes selling for £5 - £6. Most pubs will have some geezer who can sell you some. I believe they're knock offs from China, but when such savings are on offer people aren't that bothered.

 

[anotherbob]

New Zealand were the first to pass a law like this and they've just repealed it.

New Zealand repeals world-first smoking ban passed by Jacinda Ardern

Reversal of smoking ban criticised as ‘shameful’ for lacking evidence

www.independent.co.uk

I feel like these kinds of things are the legislative version of busy work. They don't end up doing anything but make it appear as if the legislature is doing something about the issue. My classic example is from my own State PA. In bottle shops you can only buy some volume of beer per trip. The antisaloon league is happy and drinkers are barely inconvenienced.
Basically you can say we are doing something drastic but pull out before the consequences hit.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I don't agree with that. In England the price of cigarettes has been going up and up over the last 20 years. A pack of cigarettes is now £15 - £16. Running parallel to this has been the rise of illegal cigarettes selling for £5 - £6. Most pubs will have some geezer who can sell you some. I believe they're knock offs from China, but when such savings are on offer people aren't that bothered.

Here in Finland we are observing thje very same situation , smuggling is fluorishing from neighboring countries and from Poland & Moldova

 

[jaingorenard]

I feel like these kinds of things are the legislative version of busy work. They don't end up doing anything but make it appear as if the legislature is doing something about the issue. My classic example is from my own State PA. In bottle shops you can only buy some volume of beer per trip. The antisaloon league is happy and drinkers are barely inconvenienced.
Basically you can say we are doing something drastic but pull out before the consequences hit.

Couldn't agree with this more. It's to distract attention from their huge failures in other areas.