Overview
- Parliament has approved the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which bars anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 from ever buying cigarettes, pending royal assent.
- The policy uses a rolling age rule that raises the legal purchase age by one year every year for future generations.
- The legislation grants ministers wide powers over vaping rules, including limits on flavours, packaging, product names, and in‑store displays.
- Public reaction is divided, with ASH calling the phased approach effective while critics warn about personal freedom, enforcement, and illicit sales.
- The UK step is drawing international attention, with Canada reviewing a similar idea as coverage contrasts New Zealand’s reversal with the Maldives’ active ban.