Health opens the door to following the United Kingdom and banning tobacco sales to people born after a certain date

Garcia said all measures included in the anti-smoking plan recently approved by the Interterritorial Council will remain in place, while the ministry will closely monitor steps taken by other countries. He defended, saying, “Like all public health measures, we’re learning and moving forward, so we’re going to look at the experiences of other countries and other places to see which of those work best for the health of this country and our population. applies to.” In statements given to the media.

This Tuesday, the United Kingdom took the first steps toward making tobacco practically inaccessible to young people. In particular, the British Parliament approved a ban on people born after 2009 from buying cigarettes.

Mónica García did not specify when work on this measure might begin or at what age the veto would be implemented, as the ministry’s anti-smoking plan is still in its infancy. It is through this roadmap that various measures will be taken, such as the expansion of smoke-free spaces – which will affect the rooftops of hospitality establishments – or increasing the price of cigarettes. This will be done through laws that evolve into these new realities.

“Smoke-free generation” in 2040.

Despite no specific dates, the anti-smoking plan mentions WHO’s intention to achieve a “tobacco-free generation by 2040”, following World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union strategies. In fact, in the first goal proposed by this strategy, which is to “prevent the initiation of consumption of tobacco and related products”, the text reflects what some countries such as New Zealand or the United Kingdom “have taken up in recent years”, tobacco -Strategies of free generations, according to which people born on or after a certain date will not be able to buy or consume tobacco when they reach the legal age of consumption. The text states, “It is still too early to assess its impact, but it is an area of ​​interest for years to come.” As García predicted, the text will pass through the Council of Ministers in two weeks.

At the moment, the Ministry of Health has already issued for public consultation the decree that will establish generic packaging for cigarettes, so that all packs will be the same regardless of their brand, or the prohibition of flavors in nicotine-containing vapors.

(expansion will continue)