The UK's new generational sales ban on tobacco is a bold move, aiming to prevent young people from ever lighting up. But will it succeed or just become another unenforced law?

While the Maldives led the way last year, New Zealand's similar ban was repealed in 2024. The UK's approach faces skepticism too, with Nigel Farage predicting its quick demise if his party wins.

'This is a long-term strategy,' says Britta Matthes, highlighting how tobacco kills millions and secondhand smoke affects countless more. 'Preventing teenagers from starting to smoke in the first place is an enticing prospect.'

In the US, smaller-scale bans are already in place: 23 towns in Massachusetts have similar policies. As norms shift, a future where smoking is merely a memory for younger generations might indeed be possible.