Devon health leaders welcome new smoking and vaping laws
Devon public health leaders endorse the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which bans tobacco sales to younger generations and tightens vape and advertising rules.Summary
Devon public health leaders have welcomed the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on April 29. The law introduces a generational ban on tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, creates new powers to establish smoke-free places, imposes a UK-wide prohibition on vape advertising and sponsorship, and establishes a licensing scheme for tobacco and nicotine product retailers. Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for public health, said the measure is a major step toward protecting children and young people from an industry that recruits the next generation, while narrowing health inequalities tied to tobacco addiction; she emphasized that legislation is only part of the solution and pledged continued collaboration with the NHS, schools, Trading Standards, community pharmacies and local businesses to help people quit and reduce second-hand smoke exposure. Steve Brown, director of public health for Devon, noted that tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable illness and early death, causing more than 30 deaths per month in Devon and Torbay, and said the act will make it harder for manufacturers to recruit young customers while supporting current smokers to quit. NHS data show nearly 26,000 people across the South West pledged to stop smoking in the year to March 2025, up from around 15,000 the previous year.
(Source：Midweek Herald)
