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The Tobacco and Vapes Act, a bill to make the provision about the supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including provision prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1st January 2009 has been passed after receiving Royal Assent on the 29th April 2026.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:
“This legislation marks a turning point for the nation’s health. By ending the cycle of tobacco addiction for future generations, we are taking one of the boldest steps in decades to prevent illness before it even begins.
“For too long, smoking has claimed lives, widened inequalities and placed avoidable pressure on our health services. This law changes that trajectory – protecting young people from ever starting, while backing current smokers with the support they need to quit for good.
“A smoke-free generation is now within reach, and this government is determined to deliver a healthier, fairer future for everyone.”
This world-leading legislation means today’s children will never legally be sold cigarettes, breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage that has persisted for decades.
A more personal message following the new law comes from former smoker Sue Mountain, 66, from South Shields. Sue, who started smoking at age 11, underwent treatment at just 48 after a biopsy revealed laryngeal cancer in 2012. Returning in 2017 and again in 2017, she is now cancer free.
“Tobacco companies denied the link between smoking and cancer for decades – long after doctors had proved it.
“It’s not that you love smoking, but you need it because it’s an addiction. Phasing out sales of lethal tobacco will stop more children becoming the next generation of people sitting in a hospital terrified and having to tell their family they have cancer.”
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said:
“This is a truly watershed moment in public health. It is no longer a question of it smoking will end but rather a question of when.
“Ridding our society of the pain and suffering it causes is a gift to future generations.”
UK Vaping Industry Responds to the Tobacco and Vapes Act
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) have both welcomed the new law.
UKVIA said, “With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill having received Royal Assent, the Tobacco and Vapes Act is now law and gives the government a wide range of powers to further regulate the vape industry.
“The focus must now be working hard to ensure that any policy changes which flow from this Act are fair, evidence-based and reflect the public health needs of smokers and vapers across the country.
“The UKVIA is pleased that the government listened to our calls for vape licensing and industry consultation to be included in the new Act and we will continue to work closely with the relevant bodies on any new regulations.
“We have a wealth of information now which shows the negative consequences from over-reaching regulatory control and we must do all in our power to ensure this does not happen.”
Continuing on this, the UKVIA cautions that a balance must be struck to ensure that adult access isn’t impacted. “There is a fine line between getting these changes right or creating a disaster that will send people back to smoking.
“The Single Use Vapes Ban has seen vapers – who were former smokers – move back to cigarettes or to smoking black market products and the upcoming Vaping Products Duty will almost certainly exacerbate this problem.”
Leading independent trade association, the IBVTA responded that, “there are measures to be welcomed within the Tobacco and Vapes Act.” However, they also reiterated the need to “balance restricting access of vaping to young people with ensuring adults who smoke can access the most popular and effective tool for quitting.”
The IBVTA highlights that the Act provides the government “powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape, and nicotine products, new powers to create further smoke-free places, and a UK-wide ban on advertising and sponsorship.” They added that it will “introduce on the spot fines of £200 to retailers found to be selling these products to people underage, and a late stage amendment in the House of Lords allows local authorities to retain funds from these fines for further enforcement.”
Gillian Golden, CEO of the IBVTA said:
“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill brings an opportunity to strengthen powers of Trading Standards in tackling the illicit trade and illegal underage sales, which is very welcome to the responsible vape industry. There will now follow a series of consultations on secondary legislation.
“It will be important to balance the use of these powers with the needs of adults who can benefit from switching from smoking to vaping. The IBVTA looks forward to working positively and progressively with the Government to ensure that vaping becomes less accessible and desirable to children, and to adults that would not otherwise be smoking.”
Golden concludes that, “it is vital that more smokers understand that vaping is very much safer than smoking, and can help them to quit smoking for good.”
When Does the Tobacco and Vapes Act Take Effect?
Immediately (from 29th April 2026)
- A comprehensive updated definition of tobacco product comes into effect making it clear that advertising of all tobacco products, including heated tobacco, is illegal.
6 months after the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Act (29th October 2026)
- Introduction of a minimum age of sale of 18 for all consumer nicotine products (mainly impacting pouches) and zero nicotine vapes.
- Ban on vending machines containing vapes or non-medicinal nicotine products (except for vending machines in adult inpatient mental health settings in England and Wales).
- Ban on the free distribution of vapes and other consumer nicotine products.
1 January 2027
- Generational tobacco sales ban comes into force meaning nobody born after 2008 can legally be sold tobacco.
June 2027
- Ban on advertising and sponsorship of vapes and consumer nicotine products.
2027 – 2029 following public consultation
- Introduction of smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places.
- Restrictions on packaging, display and contents for vapes and consumer nicotine products.
- Retail licensing and registration schemes for tobacco, vapes and consumer nicotine products.
What Does the Tobacco and Vapes Act Mean for Vaping?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act will prohibit advertising of vapes and other consumer nicotine products and give the government powers to regulate their branding, packaging, contents and display.
Vapes and other nicotine products are not included in the generational sales ban – this only applies to tobacco products.
Vapes are treated differently because, while not risk-free, they are much less harmful than smoking and can help adult smokers quit. The Tobacco and Vapes Act focuses on making vapes less appealing and less accessible to children, while ensuring they are still available for adult smokers.
ACS’ Decline09 Campaign
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched a new awareness campaign to help retailers, colleagues and consumers with incoming rules on age verification for tobacco products following the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
Backed by leading retailers and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards, the campaign has been developed in consultation with the Department for Health and Social Care.
“The change marks the first time that an age restricted sales policy has worked on the basis of checking against a single date, rather than checking whether a person is above a prescribed age on the day of purchase.
“The Decline09 campaign acts as a reminder to colleagues that if someone is born in 2009 or later, they must decline the sale of tobacco.”
Ed Woodall, Chief Executive of ACS said:
“The introduction of the generational tobacco ban will require store colleagues to be trained on a whole new way of checking that someone is of age to purchase tobacco products. The Decline09 campaign aims to simplify that process as much as possible to ensure that colleagues can approach the change with confidence and ensure that they uphold the law.”
Health Minister, Sharon Hodgson said:
“We welcome the support of the Association of Convenience Stores in implementing the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the most significant public health intervention in a generation. We are creating the first smoke-free generation and this guidance will help retailers to serve their communities responsibly and in compliance with the law.”
Alongside Decline09, the ACS recommend that retailers continue to use the Challenge 25 scheme.
Tobacco products include:
- Cigarettes, cigares, and cigarellos
- Handrolled tobacco, pipe tobacco, nasal tobacco, and cigarette papers
- Herbal smoking products, heated tobacco, chewing tobacco and waterpipe tobacco products.
