On April 21, the UK passed landmark legislation that will permanently prevent anyone currently under the age of 18 from ever legally purchasing cigarettes or vapes.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill restricts anyone born after January 1, 2009, from ever buying these products. The law also prohibits vaping in cars with children, at playgrounds, hospitals, and near schools, according to the BBC. The only exception is vaping outside hospitals for individuals attempting to quit smoking.
The legislation aims to "create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country and breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage." It also seeks to "strengthen the existing powers to ban smoking in public places to reduce harms of passive smoking, particularly around children and vulnerable people."
The bill passed both Houses of Parliament and is now awaiting "royal assent" from King Charles, who publicly backed the measure in 2023.
The new law offers hope for the future, but for current and former smokers, it's worth knowing the impact smoking has on the body—and how quickly it can recover. Tobacco addiction is one of the biggest killers in the world today. However, our bodies can recover from the fatal harm that this nasty habit causes them. In some areas of our health, we even begin to recover in 20 minutes! Indeed, the timeline of the body’s recovery after we stop smoking is remarkable.
To find out exactly what happens, click through this gallery.