Children who do not reach 18 before January 1, 2027 will never be allowed to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in the UK once the Tobacco and Vapes Bill receives royal assent from King Charles III. The bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle when the House of Lords approved minor technical amendments to legislation first introduced in 2024.
Only the Maldives currently has a similar “generational smoking ban.” New Zealand was the first country to introduce such a ban but reversed it after a change of government in 2023.
What the new rules cover and where they apply
The rules apply across the UK — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — and were developed with the devolved governments.
Key provisions:
– The legal age to buy cigarettes, cigars or tobacco will increase by one year each year starting January 1, 2027. This will mean people born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be eligible to buy them.
– Retailers face financial penalties for selling to those not entitled to buy tobacco.
– The government may introduce a registration system for smoking and vaping products entering the country to improve oversight.
– The indoor smoking ban will be extended to specified outdoor public spaces such as children’s playgrounds and areas outside schools and hospitals.
– Most indoor smoke-free spaces will also become vape-free.
– Designated outdoor smoking areas at pubs, bars and other hospitality venues may remain permitted.
– Smoking and vaping will remain legal in homes.
– Vaping will be illegal in cars if someone under 18 is present, matching existing rules on smoking.
– Advertising for smoking and vaping products will be banned.
– People aged 18 and over will still be allowed to buy vaping products, though some items aimed at younger users — notably disposable vapes — have already been outlawed.
Parliamentary reaction
The House of Lords approved six technical amendments without major resistance. Baroness Gillian Merron, of the Labour Party and the Department of Health and Social Care, called it “a landmark Bill” and “the biggest public health intervention in a generation,” saying it will save lives.
Conservative peer Michael Morris, Baron Naseby, reiterated objections, criticising the government for not heeding retailers’ concerns and objecting to standard fines of £200 for breaches of age restrictions or proxy sales. He argued the focus should be on education to prevent uptake of smoking.
Next steps
Royal assent — the monarch’s formal approval — is expected to complete the process, making the bill law. The measure has already been highlighted in a King’s Speech outlining government priorities.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar