UK passes landmark tobacco ban for future generations

The UK has passed a new law banning tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008, with the age limit increasing annually, in what the government calls the biggest public health intervention in a generation. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, approved by both Houses of Parliament, aims to create the first smoke-free generation and prevent anyone currently aged 17 or younger from ever buying cigarettes. From 2027, the legal age for the sale of tobacco products will increase by one year every year, meaning that individuals born since January 1, 2009, will never be able to buy them.

Health minister Baroness Merron stated that smoking is the number-one preventable cause of death and claims around 80,000 lives every year. The government says the bill tackles one of the UK’s leading causes of preventable death, disability and poor health. Parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care, Gillian Merron, said: 'It is, in fact, the biggest public health intervention in a generation and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives.' Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said: 'Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm.' The government said up to 1.7 million fewer people will be smoking by 2075 as a result of this bill.

The law also tightens regulations on e-cigarettes, including advertising bans and stricter sales controls. Ministers will gain new powers to control flavours and substances in smoking products, including vapes, and regulate packaging. The bill bans vapes and other consumer nicotine products from being branded and advertised to appeal to children. Vaping will be banned in playgrounds, outside schools and in hospitals, as well as in cars carrying children. Smoking cigarettes is already banned in all these areas. Vaping will still be allowed at outdoor venues such as pub gardens. No one will be banned from smoking in their own homes. Vaping outside hospitals will continue to be allowed, to help people who are trying to quit smoking, the government said.

Under the proposed law, shopkeepers will be prohibited from selling tobacco, herbal smoking products, or cigarette papers to individuals born on or after 1 January 2009. Adults attempting to purchase vaping or nicotine products for children will face fines. The law applies only to those who sell tobacco products – people will not be punished for buying, possessing or using them, regardless of their age.

Conservative shadow health minister Lord Kamall warned that ministers would gain considerable delegated power and that the ban might drive some to the black market. According to The Independent - Main, Jamie Strachan, operations director at VPZ, described the bill as an important moment for public health policy and stressed the need for strong enforcement.

An opinion poll carried out by YouGov in 2024 for ASH suggested that 78 percent supported the idea of creating a smoke-free generation in the UK. 52 percent of smokers supported raising the age of sale by one year every year.

The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services says it has no plans to follow the UK's lead. According to NRK, Karl Erik Lund, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, described the UK as using a risk-proportional approach that actively uses e-cigarettes to phase out smoking, contrasting with Norway's policy. According to NRK, Lund also described concerns about enforcement problems and that the ban may neglect older, vulnerable smokers.

Health advocacy groups hailed the new law as the first time an entire generation of young people will never be allowed to buy cigarettes or vapes.

The bill had passed through the House of Commons. The bill requires further parliamentary agreement before becoming law.