Britain is taking a dramatic step in the fight against smoking, one that could change not only the local reality but also influence many countries around the world. This is an unprecedented regulatory move, whose goal is not only to reduce the scope of smoking, but to prevent it altogether in future generations.
The British Parliament approved new legislation prohibiting the sale or supply of cigarettes, tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to anyone born after 2008. The meaning is clear. Young people aged 17 and under today will not be able to purchase these products in the future either, and the ban will remain in effect throughout their lives.
A shift in perception and not just a restriction
Until now, most countries have focused on measures such as raising prices, restricting advertising or labeling warnings. The British step presents a completely different approach. Instead of fighting smoking after it already exists, it tries to prevent the formation of the habit in advance.
According to Prof. Zvi Friedlander, chairman of the Israeli Pulmonology Association, this is a particularly significant move. "This is a step that may mark a historic turning point in the global fight against the harms of tobacco", he says. "Britain is joining New Zealand and leading a profound change in the approach to smoking".
Smoking continues to be one of the deadliest causes of morbidity in the world. It is responsible for a wide range of diseases, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
But the damage does not end there. Smoking harms almost every system in the body. It weakens the immune system, impairs lung function, accelerates aging processes and increases the risk of additional diseases.
Passive smoking is also not harmless. Children, pregnant women and other vulnerable populations are at increased risk of exposure to the harms of tobacco, even when they do not smoke themselves.
A new generation without smoking
One of the revolutionary aspects of the new law is the aspiration to create a generation that will not be exposed to smoking at all. This is not just about reducing the number of smokers, but about a deep change in social habits.
"This is a move expected to dramatically reduce morbidity rates, ease the burden on healthcare systems and improve the quality and life expectancy of the population", emphasizes Prof. Friedlander.
The implications are broad. If fewer people start smoking, fewer people will develop nicotine dependence, and fewer will need medical treatments related to smoking in the future.
Britain is not the first country to take this approach. New Zealand has already announced similar steps in the past, and the British move may encourage additional countries to join.
If the trend expands, it is possible that in the coming decades we will see a significant decline in smoking rates worldwide, and accordingly a decline in related morbidity and mortality.
And what is happening in Israel?
In Israel, as in many other countries, various steps have been taken in recent years to reduce smoking. However, it is still a widespread phenomenon with significant health and economic consequences.
According to Prof. Friedlander, there is room to consider broader measures here as well. "We hope that in Israel too, significant legislation and enforcement will be promoted, with the understanding that the harm of tobacco products is not only health-related but also social and economic", he says.
One of the central challenges in the fight against smoking is the balance between health considerations and economic considerations. The tobacco industry generates significant revenues for countries, but at the same time causes heavy healthcare expenses.
The British move places public health at the top of priorities, even at the cost of giving up short-term revenues. The new legislation in Britain marks a profound change in the global approach to smoking. Instead of trying to reduce harm, it aims to prevent it in the first place.
If additional countries adopt the model, it is possible that in the future we will see a world in which smoking becomes a much rarer phenomenon. The big question is whether Israel will also join the revolution.