The federal government’s drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, has spoken out in favor of a much more decisive approach to tobacco consumption and spoke of a “massive need for action”.
The annual increase in the minimum smoking age being discussed in Great Britain is also worth considering from a German perspective. “We can take an example from the seriousness with which the issue of smoking is approached in other countries,” Blienert told the “Bild” newspaper.
For advertising ban
“Step number one for us is to now implement the agreements from the coalition agreement and finally ensure that cigarettes etc. are no longer allowed to be advertised and that there is no longer any sponsorship from the tobacco industry.”
Every year, 127,000 people die as a result of smoking, said the former SPD MP. “It can’t stay like this.”
Brits plan to ban smoking for everyone born after 2009
In Great Britain, the minimum smoking age is to be raised every year, ultimately ending tobacco consumption in the kingdom entirely. This is provided for in a government bill that was on the agenda of Parliament in London on Tuesday.
Accordingly, the sale of tobacco products to people born after January 1, 2009 should be fundamentally and completely banned. In this way, the minimum smoking age would de facto be raised by one year every year until the entire population is affected in the long term.