Bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco clears UK parliament | Smoking
A bill to ban anyone born after 2008 in the UK from buying tobacco has completed its progress through parliament in a move ministers hope will create a “smoking-free generation”.
Under the tobacco and vaping bill, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to legally sell tobacco in the UK, in a bid to save lives and reduce the burden on the NHS.
The bill will become law when it receives royal assent next week. Its long journey through both houses of Parliament began with its introduction on November 5, 2024, and ended on Tuesday, when amendments made by Commons MPs were approved by the House of Lords.
Ministers hope that, over time, this will end the sale of tobacco products altogether and break the cycle of addiction and tobacco-related disadvantages.
Smoking causes 400,000 hospitalizations and 64,000 deaths a year in England alone, and costs the NHS £3 billion to treat tobacco-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The total cost of this to society in England is estimated to be between £21.3 billion and £27.6 billion per year; The main reason for this is loss of productivity.
“This is a historic moment for the health of the nation as the tobacco and vaping bill’s journey through parliament comes to an end,” health minister Wes Streeting said.
“Children in the UK will be part of the first generation of non-smokers, protected from lifelong addiction and harm.
“Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS and build a healthier Britain.”
The legislation will also give ministers the power to strengthen the ban on smoking in public places. It will now be extended to children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking and the devastating harm it causes is no longer uncertain, it is inevitable. And the focus now is on how quickly we get there.”
“Over the past half-century, smoking has claimed millions of lives in the UK and left a legacy of avoidable pain and loss. Ending its harm is a lasting gift to future generations, and now families everywhere can be confident their children can grow up free from the harm of tobacco.”
Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK, said: “This landmark legislation will transform the nation’s health. A smoke-free future means the tobacco industry can no longer damage the lungs of the next generation.”
The move will also ban the branding, promotion and advertising of electronic cigarettes and nicotine products to children to prevent them from becoming addicted to nicotine.
But some e-cigarette companies said the legislation could encourage former smokers who now use e-cigarettes to start using tobacco again.
“Overly restrictive measures, especially when it comes to flavors and product availability, can inadvertently drive former smokers back to tobacco or unregulated markets,” said Richard Begg, VPZ The Vaping Specialist.
Mark Oates, founder of We Vape, said: “It is vital that the government protects vape flavours, which remain the most effective incentive for adult smokers to switch to a less harmful alternative.”
