The Generation That Will Always Be Too Young to Smoke
The UK has introduced a law that will prohibit young people from ever being able to legally purchase cigarettes for the rest of their lives, effectively making them perpetually underage. The measure targets future generations, aiming to reduce smoking rates by preventing youth access. The article reflects on the cultural and personal allure of smoking, particularly among adolescents seeking identity or approval.
- ▪A new law in the UK bans young people from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes, regardless of age in the future.
- ▪The tobacco industry relies heavily on attracting young users to sustain consumption over decades.
- ▪Smoking has historically been associated with cultural coolness, though its image varies by country and generation.
- ▪The author recounts starting to smoke at age fourteen to impress a girl and fit a perceived image of maturity.
- ▪Prominent British smokers include figures like Winston Churchill and Nigel Farage, whose public personas influence perceptions of the habit.
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Critic’s NotebookThe Generation That Will Always Be Too Young to SmokeA new law in the U.K. bars young people from buying cigarettes for the rest of their lives. For the British government, even a sixty-year-old will someday be underage.By Sam KrissMay 16, 2026Illustration by Harry HaysomSave this storySave this storySave this storySave this storyLike almost every smoker, I started when I was a child. Children aren’t supposed to smoke; it’s allegedly a part of the adult world, something you get inducted into once you turn eighteen. But everyone knows that the whole industry relies on kids. The younger the better; ideally, you’d go straight from the nipple to the filter tip. For an adult who didn’t already develop the habit, smoking is not a very attractive offer.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The New Yorker.
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