Overview
- The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which cleared both Houses on Tuesday, now awaits royal assent from King Charles III.
- The law bars retailers from selling tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 through a legal age that rises by one year every year starting in 2027.
- Ministers gain powers to curb vape flavours, packaging and marketing to children, with added limits on where vaping is allowed.
- Vaping will be banned in cars with children, in playgrounds, outside schools and at hospitals, while smoking and vaping remain legal in private homes and many outdoor areas.
- Supporters call it a landmark public‑health step, while critics warn about enforcement burdens, illicit supply risks and the need for stronger stop‑smoking support, as the UK follows and contrasts with moves in New Zealand and the Maldives.