The Tobacco and Vapes Bill increases the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco by one year annually, starting with those born on or after January 1, 2009, resulting in affected groups facing a lifelong prohibition.
The legislation, expected to receive royal assent next week, also enhances vaping regulations, including banning sales of vaping and nicotine products to individuals under 18, as well as restricting advertising, promotions, free distributions, and discounts.
According to the government, these measures aim to decrease smoking rates and prevent youth addiction to nicotine, thus relieving long-term stress on the National Health Service.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting remarked that the bill’s approval marks a historic milestone for public health in the country.
”Children in the UK will belong to the first smoke-free generation, safeguarded from a lifetime of addiction and associated harms,” he expressed.
”Prevention is superior to intervention – this reform will save lives, reduce the strain on the NHS, and foster a healthier Britain.”
According to official estimates, smoking leads to approximately 64,000 deaths and 400,000 hospital admissions annually in England, costing the NHS around 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) each year, with broader economic costs surpassing 20 billion pounds.
Stricter regulations on vaping
Vaping has increasingly drawn the attention of policymakers, particularly due to concerns surrounding youth usage and nicotine dependency.
Last year, the government prohibited the sale of single-use or disposable vapes over worries about youth engagement and environmental impact.
The new laws will further tighten these regulations, granting ministers the authority to manage the flavors and packaging of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products through further legislation.
Approximately 10% of adults in Great Britain, around 5.5 million people, are reported to use vapes, according to health charity Action on Smoking and Health, with usage levels remaining largely stable since 2024, suggesting that growth has started to level off.
About half of those who vape are former smokers, while roughly 40% still smoke in addition to vaping, the charity noted. ($1 = 0.7394 pounds)
