The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will prevent the legal sale of cigarettes to the next generation and curb youth vaping. The legislation was first announced by the previous government and will be taken forward by the current Labour government. Creating a smokefree generation has overwhelming support from the public and the health community. The Bill will:
Make it illegal to sell tobacco products to children born on or after 1 January 2009 to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to tobacco.
Give government powers to stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches) from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children.
The Bill is also expected to give government powers to extend the ban on smoking in public places to some outdoor spaces and introduce vape-free places. There will need to be further consultation to determine exactly how these powers will be implemented.
8 million lives have been lost to smoking since 1971. Together, we can end this epidemic and prevent our loved ones suffering from smoking related disease.
Key links and resources:
- Answers to frequently asked questions about raising the age of sale
- ASH briefing on the Bill
- ASH briefing on smokefree outdoor spaces
On this page:
- How will the smokefree generation policy work?
- Why do we need to tackle smoking?
- Public support for the legislation
- What about the tobacco industry?
- What can I do to help create a smokefree generation?
- Further links and resources
How will the smokefree generation policy work?
- From 2027, the age of sale for tobacco will raise by one year every year, meaning that those who are born on or after the 1st of January 2009 will never catch up with the legal age to buy tobacco.
- The law will make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone who falls under the age of sale. It will not criminalise underage purchase, possession or use of tobacco, so no one will ever be penalised for smoking.
- The government estimates that raising the age of sale each year will mean up to 1.7 million fewer people smoking by 2075. This would avoid up to 115,000 cases of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and other lung diseases and save tens of thousands of lives, saving the health and care system billions of pounds.
Why do we need to tackle smoking?
- Smoking is number one preventable cause of death, disability and ill health and is responsible for 80,000 deaths a year in the UK, and 1-in-4 of all cancer related deaths. No other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.
- Smoking puts huge pressure on the NHS, with almost one hospital admission every minute attributable to smoking and up to 75,000 GP appointments each month due to smoking-related illness.
- The direct cost of smoking to the UK public finances in 2023 was £21.9bn. This mainly consists of lost economic productivity and NHS and social care costs. This is more than double the £8.4 billion the treasury raised through tobacco tax revenues. This means less money left over for vital public services.
Public support for the legislation
Raising the age of sale to create a smokefree generation is supported by 69% of people in GB, with just 12% opposed. The policy has broad cross-party support with 70% of those who voted Conservative in 2019, 74% who voted Labour, and 75% of those who voted Lib Dem. A majority (52%) of smokers also support raising the age of sale, more than double the proportion (24%) opposed.
- Click here to see public support for raising the age of sale in your constituency (GB only).
What about the tobacco industry?
We know that the tobacco industry is doing everything they can to block the legislation which makes it even more important for us to show MPs how much support there is for a smokefree generation. Tobacco companies are mobilising their vast resources to hold events, pay for ads and petitions, and lobby MPs in an effort to push misinformation and mislead the public. We’ve already seen tobacco-funded front groups and thinktanks lobbying hard against the age of sale policy. This will only increase in intensity as the legislation goes through parliament. You can check if an organisation has links to the tobacco industry by searching here. Further information about how tobacco companies have attempted to block tobacco endgame policies in the UK and around the world can be found here.
What can I do to help create a smokefree generation?
It’s vital that we show MPs how much support there is for creating a smokefree generation. You can play your part in creating a smokefree generation by writing to your MP and asking them to vote in support of the legislation. Find your MP here (and copy in enquiries@ash.org.uk). ASH has drafted a template which you can use to help draft your email.
You can also sign the Cancer Research UK petition calling on the UK government to reintroduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Further links and resources
- ASH response to the consultation on ‘creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’
- Cancer Research UK Smokefree UK webpage
- 'Stopping the start' command paper, which sets out the rationale and impact for key measures in the Bill
- Article by the Chief Medical Officer: Protecting children, families and vulnerable from tobacco harms