Anyone aged 17 or under will face a permanent ban on purchasing cigarettes for the rest of their lives under landmark legislation that has completed its passage through Parliament, marking what ministers have described as the most significant public health intervention in a generation.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which has now been agreed by both the Commons and the Lords, will create a so-called smoke-free generation by making it illegal for anyone born after 1 January 2009 to ever legally buy tobacco products — a prohibition that follows them throughout their lifetime rather than simply applying a fixed minimum age.
Health minister Baroness Merron told the House of Lords on Monday that the bill’s passage represented a defining moment. “This afternoon marks the end of this Bill’s journey throughout Parliament,” she said. “It is a landmark Bill, it will create a smoke-free generation. It is, in fact, the biggest public health intervention in a generation and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives.”
Once the legislation receives royal assent, ministers will gain new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, with authority extending to flavours and packaging. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death, disability and ill health in the United Kingdom, and the bill forms a central part of the Government’s wider strategy to address that burden.
Among its key provisions, vaping will be prohibited in cars carrying children, in playgrounds, outside schools and in the grounds of hospitals — though it will continue to be permitted in certain areas outside hospital buildings in recognition of its role as a cessation tool for existing smokers. Pub gardens, beaches and private outdoor spaces fall outside the scope of the restrictions, and people will retain the right to smoke and vape within their own homes.
The legislation has not been without its critics. Conservative peer Lord Naseby acknowledged the bill had caused significant concern among retailers and others in the tobacco industry, and argued that education remained a more effective long-term solution than prohibition. Baroness Merron responded by reaffirming that the Government had worked closely with retailers throughout the process and would continue to do so.
Sarah Sleet of Asthma and Lung UK welcomed the bill’s passage but called on the Government to ensure existing smokers were not overlooked. She warned of a “postcode lottery” in smoking cessation support and argued the tobacco industry should be made to fund such services through a dedicated levy. “Now that this groundbreaking bill is finally over the line, we have a chance to go further to protect public health and hold the tobacco industry to account,” she said.
