People who are not 18 by January 1, 2027 — effectively anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 — will never be allowed to buy cigarettes or other tobacco products in the UK if the Tobacco and Vapes Bill receives royal assent from King Charles III.
The bill cleared its final parliamentary stage after the House of Lords approved a small number of technical amendments. The legislation was developed in coordination with devolved administrations in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh and will apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Internationally, only the Maldives currently has a similar generational ban on tobacco sales. New Zealand previously enacted such a policy but it was later repealed by a change of government in 2023.
Main measures
– From January 1, 2027 the legal age to purchase tobacco products will increase by one year each year, creating a cohort-based ban that prevents those born on or after January 1, 2009 from ever legally buying tobacco.
– Retailers face financial penalties for selling tobacco to people who are not entitled to buy it or for arranging sales via a proxy buyer. Fixed penalties of £200 have been proposed for breaches.
– The government may introduce a registration system for tobacco and vaping products entering the country to strengthen oversight of imports.
– The current indoor smoking ban will be extended to certain outdoor public spaces, including children’s playgrounds and areas immediately outside schools and hospitals.
– Most indoor smoke-free zones will also be designated vape-free, although smoking will still be allowed in specified outdoor areas at pubs, bars and similar hospitality venues.
– Smoking and vaping will remain legal inside private homes.
– Vaping will be banned in vehicles where someone under 18 is present, bringing it in line with existing rules on smoking.
– Advertising for smoking and vaping products will be prohibited.
– Adults aged 18 and over will still be able to purchase vaping products, but products aimed at younger users — such as disposable vapes — have already been outlawed under the program.
House of Lords debate
The Lords session formalized six technical changes. Supporters described the bill as a major public-health step toward creating a smoke-free generation. Baroness Gillian Merron, speaking for the Department of Health and Social Care, called the legislation a landmark public health measure that will save lives.
Some peers remained critical. Conservative Lord Michael Morris (Baron Naseby) voiced concerns about fixed fines for retailers and argued the government had not sufficiently addressed retailers’ practical worries. He also said more emphasis should be placed on education and prevention rather than penalties.
What happens next
Royal assent is expected to be a formality; the bill was already listed in the King’s Speech as a government priority. Once signed into law, the provisions will take effect according to the timelines and commencement rules set out in the legislation.
Editor’s note: The headline and text were updated on April 27, 2026, to clarify that the policy bans the sale of tobacco products rather than smoking itself.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar