A smoking ban has been announced for people born after 2008 in the UK.
It will become illegal for shops to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, as part of plans to create a smoke-free generation. The ban is designed to last for a lifetime, with the legal age of sale set to rise by one year every year from 2027 onwards.
The ban is part of a campaign to rein in smoking, which remains one of the country’s top causes of preventable death and disability.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has cleared parliament, and when it gets royal assent, ministers can decide how to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, along with their flavours and packaging.
Vaping is set to be banned in cars with children, along with playgrounds, outside schools and in hospitals. However, it appears vapes can still be used in pub gardens, beaches, and private outdoor spaces.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said of the historic bill: “Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.”
Meanwhile, health minister Baroness Merron told the Lords on Monday that the bill was “the biggest public health intervention in a generation and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives.”
In October 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempted to ban smoking outside pubs and clubs.
However, the move proved controversial, with trade body UKHospitality saying the ban threatens “serious economic harm to hospitality venues”.
The British Beer and Pub Association added that the plan was “deeply concerning and difficult to understand” and “yet another blow to the viability of our nation’s vital community assets”.
The ban was eventually dropped from government plans by November 2024.