The publication confirmed it had information supporting plans to extend the indoor smoking ban, despite some government opposition.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed sweeping plans to phase out tobacco and free non-smokers from second-hand smoke. But the hospitality sector has sounded the alarm, saying it could hurt already struggling pubs. Politician Nigel Farage has warned it could spell the end for pubs.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts enormous strain on national health care and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.
The measures were proposed by the previous Conservative government as part of a tougher version of the bill aimed at banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 2009. The bill was tabled in parliament but was not considered due to the general election. The new Labour government has promised to reintroduce legislation to progressively raise the age at which people can buy cigarettes.
