Children who do not reach 18 before January 1, 2027 will never be permitted 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 agreed to the last minor amendments. Developed with the devolved governments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, the measures will apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Only the Maldives currently has a comparable “generational smoking ban.” New Zealand was the first country to introduce such a law but the policy was overturned by a change of government in 2023.
Key provisions
– The legal age to buy cigarettes, cigars or tobacco will increase by one year each year starting January 1, 2027, effectively meaning people born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be eligible to buy tobacco.
– Retailers face financial penalties for selling to those not entitled to purchase tobacco or for selling by proxy.
– The government can introduce a registration system for smoking and vaping products entering the country to improve oversight.
– The indoor smoking ban will be extended to selected outdoor public spaces, including children’s playgrounds and areas outside schools and hospitals.
– Most indoor smoke-free areas will also become vape-free, though smoking in designated outdoor areas at pubs, bars and similar hospitality venues will remain allowed.
– Smoking and vaping will continue to be legal in private homes.
– Vaping will be illegal in cars where someone under 18 is present, matching existing rules on smoking.
– Advertising for smoking and vaping products will be banned.
– Adults aged 18 or older will still be able to buy vaping products, but items targeted at younger consumers, such as disposable vapes, have already been outlawed under the program.
House of Lords debate
The Lords session formalized six technical amendments after the bill had completed all readings in both houses. Even some opposition members did not oppose the final changes.
Baroness Gillian Merron of the Department of Health and Social Care called it “a landmark Bill” that will “create a smoke-free generation” and described it as the biggest public health intervention in a generation that will save lives.
Conservative Lord Michael Morris (Baron Naseby) reiterated objections, criticizing fixed fines of £200 for retailers who breach age rules or sell to proxy buyers and arguing the government had not heeded retailers’ concerns. He said more emphasis should be placed on education to prevent smoking uptake.
Next steps
Royal assent is largely a formality in the UK; the bill had already been highlighted in a King’s Speech outlining government priorities. Once signed into law, the new rules will take effect according to the timelines 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, not smoking itself.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar