One of the standout proposals highlighted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the final day of the Conservative Party conference is a bold step: gradually raising the minimum age to buy tobacco each year so that anyone born after 2009 will never be legally allowed to purchase cigarettes. The aim is clear, and the plan has drawn cheers from major cancer-fighting organizations even as it faces skepticism from the more liberal wing of the Conservative Party. Critics worry that the measure may not fully resolve the broader tobacco problem, but supporters argue it could steadily shrink youth tobacco use over time.
Sunak envisions this rule taking effect after Britain follows New Zealand, the first country to enact such legislation, with a start date in 2027. He cited stark statistics to justify the policy: smoking contributes to roughly one in four cancer deaths, and it is linked to about 64,000 cancer fatalities in the nation. He underscored the toll tobacco use takes on the health system, noting that it drives hospital admissions and imposes substantial costs on the National Health Service. The prime minister argued that by delaying the age at which tobacco can be bought, the country could cut cancer deaths by about a quarter and relieve pressure on health services while protecting younger generations. Estimates from health advocates place tobacco-related costs to the NHS at around £2.4 billion annually.
Nonetheless, Sunak would need parliamentary approval to implement the law, a hurdle that cannot be assumed at present. He signaled that he would empower party members with a vote on the measure, a move that drew sharp comment from critics. The most liberal-leaning factions within the party, led by former prime minister Liz Truss, argued that the policy was illiberal and inconsistent with Conservative principles. They questioned the logic of raising the age limit progressively to 40 years, suggesting that such an approach would require frequent verification of age and could create practical complications. A Conservative MP even asked the Daily Telegraph whether this could lead to future generations where today’s sixty-year-olds would be required to present IDs to purchase tobacco in decades to come.
Public opinion in Britain, as reflected in a YouGov survey conducted in late September, shows broad support for the idea, though people also express concerns about how effective it would be. A 25-year-old student named Anisha argued that if individuals want tobacco, they will find a way to obtain it, just as some do with other banned substances. Another student, Hasan, warned that the plan might fuel a black market and push tobacco sales into illicit channels. These perspectives highlight the broader debate about the best means to curb tobacco use without driving unintended consequences.
cancer prevention
Even among parents and carers there is cautious support. A mother of a two-year-old, while skeptical, acknowledges the seriousness with which politicians are approaching tobacco control. She hopes the policy contributes to a non-smoking generation that faces lower risks of lung cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses. Health officials and major cancer organizations in Britain have echoed that sentiment, arguing that strong political action on tobacco is essential for long-term public health gains.
Michelle Mitchell, the director of Cancer Research UK, described the potential policy as a major step forward. In conversations with major newspapers, she suggested that if the measure is confirmed, the prime minister would earn praise for prioritizing public health over tobacco industry interests. Independent analyses from a consulting firm, Frontier Economics, have indicated that significantly reducing tobacco use could prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases in coming years, underscoring the potential health dividends of such a policy.