UK approves bill to ban sales of cigarettes

Both chambers of the British Parliament have approved a landmark bill that would progressively ban cigarette sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009, effectively preventing those currently aged 17 and under from ever legally buying tobacco in their lifetime.

The legislation, known as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, is designed to curb smoking initiation among young people and gradually eliminate smoking in the country over time.Once it receives royal assent, it will become law.

Health Minister Wes Streeting described the move by saying, "It's a historic moment for the nation's health that will lead to the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm."

Beyond tobacco restrictions, the bill also grants the government expanded regulatory powers.

These include the authority to extend indoor smoking bans to certain outdoor public areas such as playgrounds and spaces outside schools and hospitals.

It will also enable tighter controls on vape products, including restrictions on flavours and packaging, as well as banning vaping in locations where smoking is already prohibited.

The government said the legislation is part of a broader strategy to strengthen preventative healthcare and reduce long-term pressure on the National Health Service (NHS).

Public health advocates welcomed the decision. Hazel Cheeseman, director of the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) called the bill a 'decisive turning point for public health'.

The UK government had already taken steps earlier, including a ban introduced in June 2025 on the sale of disposable vapes, which are widely considered appealing to younger users due to their low cost and colourful packaging.

Internationally, similar policies have seen mixed outcomes. New Zealand became the first country in 2022 to pass such a generational smoking ban, prohibiting cigarette sales to individuals born after 2008.

However, the law was repealed in November 2023 following a change in government. The Maldives also implemented a comparable measure in November 2025, banning cigarette sales to anyone born after January 1, 2007.

According to the NHS, smoking in England is responsible for around 75,000 deaths annually and contributes to roughly one in four deaths nationwide.