The U.K. is set to ban people born after 2008 from purchasing tobacco products such as cigarettes. Lawmakers approved the amendments to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on April 20, although it is unclear when the legislation will take effect.
As a result, it will become illegal in the U.K. to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. These products include cigarette paper and herbal smoking products. The ban also forbids the sale of cigarettes that aren’t in their original packaging.
Vapes are not subject to the ban, but laws restricting the sale of vapes and nicotine products will be strengthened under the new legislation, as will bans on smoking in public places.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The goal, according to the U.K. government, is to “create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country and breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.”
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.K. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that cigarettes cause about one in five deaths each year. In the U.S., the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including vapes, is 21; smoking bans and other laws further regulating the sale of cigarettes are generally left up to individual states.
The global antismoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health praised the U.K.’s new legislation.
“This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain—it’s inevitable. And the focus now is on how soon we get there,” said Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, in a statement to media.