Overview
- The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which cleared both Houses on Monday, now awaits the routine royal assent before becoming law.
- Anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 would never legally buy tobacco, with the legal age rising each year from January 1, 2027, and the rules target sellers rather than users.
- Ministers gain new powers to curb vape and tobacco flavors, packaging and marketing, and vaping would be barred in cars with children, playgrounds, and areas outside schools and hospitals while remaining allowed in homes and pub gardens.
- Retailers face financial penalties for unlawful sales, with fines starting at £200, and the framework is set to apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Supporters say the policy will cut smoking-related illness and ease NHS pressure, while critics warn about enforcement burdens, impacts on small shops and possible illicit trade, with New Zealand’s short-lived ban and the Maldives’ law cited as context.