LONDON: A new UK-wide law aimed at creating the first “tobacco-free generation” was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday (November 5), in a world-leading ban.

The proposals come after New Zealand backed away from introducing a so-called “generational smoking ban” which would have stopped the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2008.

“This is groundbreaking public health legislation. It will mean we create the first tobacco-free generation in our country,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

“So children growing up in our country today will never be able to legally buy cigarettes,” he added.

The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill will prevent anyone born after January 1, 2009 from legally smoking by gradually increasing the age at which tobacco can be purchased.

The legislation is similar to a bill proposed by the last Conservative administration, which was abandoned earlier this year when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election.

The new Labor government of Sunak’s successor, Keir Starmer, has however relaunched these proposals, which are part of a desire to increase preventive health measures and ease long-term pressure on the UK’s publicly funded National Health Service (NHS).

The bill will introduce restrictions on the advertising and sponsorship of vaping, as well as the flavors, presentations and packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people.

He also proposed a ban on the manufacture and sale of snus made from oral tobacco, following the example of European Union countries other than Sweden.

Last month, the government announced that disposable vapes would be banned next year under separate legislation.