Should we welcome a smoking ban? British politicians want to stop anyone born in 2009 or later from smoking. But how much should politicians control our lives?
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UK smoking crackdown is ‘nuts’, says Johnson
Should we welcome a smoking ban? British politicians want to stop anyone born in 2009 or later from smoking. But how much should politicians control our lives?
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This week politicians voted to ban smoking. If it passes into law, the ban will make it illegalAgainst the law. for anyone born in 2009 or later to buy tobaccoA substance smoked in cigarettes. It contains nicotine, which is addictive. products.
Youth smoking has a long history. Up to 90% of smokers worldwide begin as teenagers.
But soon, if you are 15 or younger, you will never be allowed to smoke. It is hoped that eventually, no-one will smoke at all.
The law is supported by many. But it has sparked debate about the sort of country people want. Former prime ministerA prime minister is the head of government in a country with a parliamentary system. Boris Johnson moaned: "The party of Winston ChurchillThe British prime minister during World War Two, and later from 1951 to 1955. wants to ban cigars? It's just mad." Winston Churchill was a famous smoker.
Almost everyone knows that smoking is harmful. It costs lots of money to treat smoking-related health problems, and smoke is also bad for the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere..
But some say people should still have the freedom to smoke if they want to.
Should we welcome a smoking ban?
Yes! We all know how bad smoking is for your health. The government can make sure that young people never harm their health this way.
No! We should be allowed to make our own choices, even if they are bad for us. If the government wants to stop smoking, they can put up taxesThere are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes. so cigarettes cost more to buy.
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Keywords
Illegal - Against the law.
Tobacco - A substance smoked in cigarettes. It contains nicotine, which is addictive.
Prime minister - A prime minister is the head of government in a country with a parliamentary system.
Winston Churchill - The British prime minister during World War Two, and later from 1951 to 1955.
Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.
Taxes - There are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes.
UK smoking crackdown is ‘nuts’, says Johnson
Weary: Historically, many child labourers smoked, like these newspaper boys in Missouri in 1910. Glossary
Illegal - Against the law.
Tobacco - A substance smoked in cigarettes. It contains nicotine, which is addictive.
Prime minister - A prime minister is the head of government in a country with a parliamentary system.
Winston Churchill - The British prime minister during World War Two, and later from 1951 to 1955.
Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.
Taxes - There are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes.