Britain proposes ban on cigarettes for younger generations

Britain's government on Wednesday proposed banning younger generations from ever buying cigarettes, a move that would give the country some of the world's toughest smoking rules and hurt the sales of major tobacco firms.

If passed into law, the smoking age would rise by one year every year, potentially phasing out smoking among young people almost completely as soon as 2040, a briefing paper said.

"A 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Conservative Party conference, where he announced the plan.