Vietnam recently announced that its draft law on tobacco control will no longer include a lifetime ban for people born in 2010 or later. Understanding why the government reversed this proposal helps readers see how health policies are shaped by evidence and global experience.

Health Minister Dao Hong Lan told the National Assembly that the generational ban was removed because the policy is new and there is not enough evidence of its effectiveness. She stressed that the lack of solid international data was a key reason.

The minister pointed to the limited track record of similar measures abroad. New Zealand introduced a generational prohibition in 2022 but repealed it before it could take effect. The Maldives applied the rule to a small population of about 530,000, and the United Kingdom’s bill will only start in 2027.

Vietnam chose to retain the minimum legal age for tobacco at 18, matching the Civil Code’s definition of legal capacity. This age limit is also the most common standard, adopted by roughly 140 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and other regions.

In short, the generational ban was excluded because international evidence is still insufficient and few countries have successfully implemented it. The government therefore kept the widely accepted 18‑year age rule while waiting for clearer data.