Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law
The UK enacts the Tobacco and Vapes Act to create a smoke-free generation by banning tobacco sales to children born on or after 1 January 2009 and tightening vape protections.Summary
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has received Royal Assent, establishing the UK’s first smoke-free generation by making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The legislation bans advertising and sponsorship of vapes and nicotine products and empowers restrictions on packaging, branding and displays that appeal to children, while preserving access for adult smokers seeking to quit. It also strengthens smoke-free protections in public places and introduces stronger enforcement powers, including potential retail licensing, to tackle illicit tobacco and vape sales. Supported by record funding for adult smoking cessation services, the law aims to prevent illness, reduce health inequalities and ease pressure on the NHS. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the UK, responsible for around 80,000 deaths annually. Health leaders, charities and public health bodies welcomed the Act as a landmark public health reform that will save lives, protect children from nicotine addiction and shift policy toward prevention.
(Source：GOV.UK)
