More than just a ban: How a ‘smokeless generation’ in Canada could cause more harm than good

A smokeless generation has to be a step in the right direction, right?

The U.K. Parliament passed legislation to ban the sale of tobacco products to children born after 2008. This writer has some thoughts.

I applaud the U.K. for taking action on this, as I feel it would help youth with their neurological and physical development. The brain is still developing at this age, so giving young people access to these products would hinder brain development and cognitive function. It is a habit that should not start so young.

While a step in the right direction, there are negative effects to this ban in the U.K. — and for Canada, too, if the federal government decides to implement one.

Anyone who was born before 2008 can still buy tobacco products, but anyone born after will not have access to them. Does this really solve the problem at all? If you’re going to ban something, ban it for everybody.

When these children become adults, they will still not have access to these products — yet, adult smokers today will be able to purchase tobacco products for the rest of their lives. Make that make sense.

There is some age-based discrimination happening here. Once these young people become adults, this ban should not be applicable to them to make it fair for everybody. Also, what happened to freedom of choice? That goes out the window automatically.

Everywhere I turn, I see a young person consuming tobacco in some form. Canada’s retailers may suffer economically with reduced tobacco sales, if the government here at home were to introduce a similar ban. I see lots of tobacco purchases coming from young people, so Canada could face a huge hit if this ban happens.

However, this ban could lower health-care costs in Canada. Tobacco-related harm ranks second in the country — just under alcoholism.

While banning tobacco products could prevent cancer and other diseases, this is not the best solution. Young people will still find a way to access these products and may be more engaged and inclined to participate in buying illegal goods. The Canadian government will need to do much more than ban tobacco products to get somewhere with that. 

​There should be more ways for Canadians to access health care, and I feel that half the battle is finding more family doctors for those who don’t have one.

I see the benefits of the tobacco ban in both the U.K. and possibly Canada. But when tobacco products have been around for so long and all of a sudden will be banned for the coming generation, pushback is going to be present. Expect there to be more harm done than good.