ABOLISHING smoking is the “biggest public health intervention in a generation”, the PM has said.
Rishi Sunak hit out at a backlash from campaigners over his proposed crackdown.
GettyRishi Sunak has defended his proposed smoking crackdown[/caption]
He said: “Smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of death, disability and illness in our society.”
New plans will raise the smoking age every year so no child currently under 14 will ever be allowed to buy cigarettes.
Mr Sunak was asked why he shelved a proposed ban on buy-one-get-one-free junk food deals to tackle obesity.
He told the BBC salt and sugary snacks were not the same as cigarettes, saying: “Smoking is different to a pack of crisps or piece of cake.”
The proposed ban would bring the UK in line New Zealand, which was the first country in the world to bring in laws preventing the next generation from smoking.
Eight per cent of the Kiwi population currently smoke, a historic low, while vaping has increased.
Meanwhile, around 12.9 per cent of UK adults smoke, and 8.7 per cent use an e-cig daily.
The Government hopes the crackdown will see 1.7 million fewer people smoking by 2075, against the current 6.4 million.
It will become illegal for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, to be sold tobacco products.