KMT Legislator Proposes 'Generational Smoking Ban'! Bill to Ban Smoking for Those Born After 2009 Heads to Second Reading

KMT Legislator Liao Xian-xiang has proposed an amendment to the 'Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act,' advocating for a 'generational smoking ban.' The draft has been directly sent for a second reading in the Legislative Yuan, with key points as follows: • Regulation Content: It explicitly prohibits the supply of tobacco products and essential components of designated tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. This restriction will not be lifted upon reaching adulthood, meaning a lifetime ban on purchasing tobacco. • Penalties for Violations: Those who violate the regulations by supplying tobacco products may face fines ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$250,000. • Ministry of Health and Welfare Response: Minister of Health and Welfare Shiu-chong Liang and the Health Promotion Administration stated that legislatively mandating a 'generational smoking ban' has few international precedents and is in an experimental phase (e.g., implemented in Maldives, passed in the UK, repealed in New Zealand). The government will continue to collect international outcomes and observe potential illegal private tobacco markets. Under the premise of forming social consensus and ensuring 'benefits outweigh harms,' they will carefully deliberate. Currently, they will continue to protect adolescent health through existing measures such as a complete ban on e-cigarettes, school outreach, and smoking cessation counseling.