The British parliament has approved the law on the “non-smoking generation”: the sale of tobacco products to those born after 2008 is prohibited.
Both houses of the British Parliament – the House of Commons and the House of Lords – have approved the final version of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill agreed. The document now awaits the assent of King Charles III, after which it will become full law.
According to the new law, from January 1, 2027, the sale of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, rolling tobacco, etc.) to all citizens born on or after January 1, 2009 in Great Britain will be banned for life.
This means that people who are 17 years old or younger when the law goes into effect will never be able to legally buy tobacco in the country. Each year the age limit is automatically increased by one year until it becomes permanent for future generations.
The law also significantly tightens the regulation of e-cigarettes and vapes:
– The powers of the government to limit the taste, packaging and advertising of nicotine products will be expanded;
– Vaping is prohibited in most non-smoking areas, including areas near schools and playgrounds;
– Additional restrictions will be imposed on the sale and promotion of vapes to minors.
British Health Minister Wes Streeting called this event “a historic moment for the health of the nation.”
Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the UK, killing around 80,000 people each year and placing a huge burden on the National Health Service (NHC).
The government hopes that the new law will dramatically reduce the number of smokers among young people and bring the country closer to becoming completely “smoke-free” in the long term.
Following royal assent (a date yet to be set), the law will come into effect in stages. The first serious restrictions on tobacco sales will come into effect in January 2027.
It is one of the strongest anti-tobacco laws in the world. A similar initiative was previously attempted in New Zealand, but was later abandoned.
