CREATING A SMOKE-FREE GENERATION AND TACKLING YOUTH-VAPING The Bill will ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes to children
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was announced in the King’s speech on 7 November 2023 and introduced to Parliament on 20 March 2024. The Bill is now due to have its second reading on 16 April 2024.
The Bill includes a new law to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes or other tobacco products, alongside measures to crack down on youth vaping and strengthen enforcement of these new laws.
This is in addition to a broader package of measures to tackle youth vaping – including banning the sale and supply of disposable vapes under environmental legislation and the new excise duty on vaping products announced in the Spring Budget.
The Government hopes to create the first smoke-free generation so children turning 15 this year or younger will never be legally sold tobacco. The age of sale will be raised by one year each year to prevent future generations from ever taking up smoking, as there is no safe age to smoke. Those currently smoking will not be affected by the new Law.
To reduce the appeal of vapes to children, we also announced that new powers will be introduced to restrict vape flavours and packaging. The powers will also allow the government to change how vapes are displayed in shops.
