Overview
- Parliament has passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and it now awaits royal assent from King Charles III, which is expected to be a formality.
- Starting January 1, 2027, the legal age to buy tobacco will increase by one year every year so anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be able to purchase it legally.
- The law targets retailers rather than users, with offences for unlawful sales and new powers for fines and licensing of sellers.
- Ministers gain authority to restrict vape flavours, packaging and advertising, with rules that ban vaping in cars with children and in areas near schools and hospitals.
- Health leaders call the measure life‑saving with projections of fewer smokers and disease cases, while critics warn of illicit trade, lost tax revenue and possible legal challenges, noting New Zealand’s earlier repeal and the Maldives’ current ban as cautionary examples.