People born after 2009 will never be able to buy cigarettes in the UK again. Parliament passed the “smoke-free” generation law
British children aged 17 and under, and anyone born in the future, will never be able to legally buy cigarettes again after lawmakers approved tougher new restrictions on smoking, Reuters reports.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill raises the legal age for buying tobacco products by one year every year for people born on or after January 1, 2009. The age groups targeted are effectively subject to a lifetime ban.
The law, which is due to receive royal assent next week, also tightens controls on vaping, including banning the sale of vaping and nicotine products to under-18s, but also restricting advertising, in-store display, free distribution and discounts.
The British government welcomes a historic anti-smoking measure
The Labor government led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says the measures will help reduce smoking and prevent nicotine addiction among young people, easing long-term pressure on the NHS, Britain's public health service.
Wes Streeting, Britain's health secretary, said the passage of the bill was a historic moment for the nation's health.
“UK children will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and its harmful effects,” he hailed.
“Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, reduce pressure on the NHS and build a healthier Britain,” he added.
According to official estimates, smoking causes around 64,000 deaths and 400,000 hospital admissions in England each year, costing the NHR around £3 billion each year. The wider economic costs are estimated at over £20 billion.
Britain has also cracked down on vaping
Vaping has also become an important topic for policy makers in London and elsewhere, particularly due to concerns about its uptake by young people and nicotine addiction.
The British government last year banned the sale of single-use e-cigarettes due to concerns about youth use and the impact on the environment.
The new legislation will tighten these rules, with ministers to be given powers to regulate the flavors and packaging of tobacco, nicotine and vaping products through secondary legislation.
About 10% of adults in the UK, around 5.5 million people, use e-cigarettes, according to the health organization Action on Smoking and Health. The level has remained broadly unchanged since 2024, suggesting that the pace of growth has begun to stabilise.
About half of people who use e-cigarettes are ex-smokers, while about 40% continue to smoke alongside their use, Action on Smoking and Health said.
