In a significant move towards creating a smoke-free generation, the UK Parliament has enacted groundbreaking legislation that prohibits individuals aged 17 and under—and all future generations—from purchasing cigarettes legally.

The newly passed Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduces a progressive increase in the legal age for tobacco purchases. Beginning with those born on or after January 1, 2009, the legal age will rise by one year annually, effectively instituting a lifetime ban for these age groups.

This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to curb smoking rates and shield young people from nicotine addiction, ultimately reducing the long-term demands on the National Health Service (NHS).

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the bill’s passage as a landmark achievement for public health in the country.

“We are setting the stage for the UK’s children to become the first smoke-free generation, safeguarding them from a lifetime of addiction and its associated harms,” Streeting remarked.

He further emphasized, “Prevention is the best approach. This reform will save lives, alleviate pressure on the NHS, and foster a healthier Britain.”

The measure, passed by Keir Starmer’s Labour government, was first proposed in 2023 under UK Conservative leader Rishi Sunak.

Smoking causes about 64,000 deaths and 400,000 hospital admissions a year in England alone, according to official estimates.

The NHS spends roughly £3 billion ($5.67 billion) annually on treating smoking-related illnesses, with wider economic costs estimated to exceed £20 billion.

UK health minister Gillian Merron told the House of Lords on Monday the move was “the biggest public health intervention in a generation”.

“I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives,” she said.

Tighter rules on vaping

The law, which is due to receive royal assent next week, also tightens controls on vaping, which has become a key focus for policymakers over concerns of youth uptake and nicotine dependence.

Vaping devices and other nicotine products will be prohibited for under‑18s, while advertising displays, free giveaways, and discounts will also be banned.

Last year, the UK government banned the sale of single-use or disposable vapes over environmental concerns and their use by young people.

The new legislation builds on those rules, giving ministers the power to regulate the flavours and packaging of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products.

Around 10 per cent of adults in Great Britain — an estimated 5.5 million people — use vapes, according to health charity Action on Smoking and Health.

Those levels are broadly unchanged since 2024, suggesting uptake has begun to plateau.

About half of those who vape are former smokers, while around 40 per cent continue to smoke alongside vaping, the charity said.

The international position

In 2022, New Zealand became the first country in the world to impose a rising, age-restricted smoking ban.

Similarly to the UK, the NZ government outlawed the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2008.

However, a newly elected conservative coalition repealed the law in November 2023, less than a year after it was introduced.

In November last year, the Maldives banned the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 1 January 2007.

Australia’s own ‘massive problem’

Health Minister Mark Butler said at the time of the New Zealand smoking ban that the Australian government was watching developments across the Tasman and in the UK closely.

“The government has taken an evidence-based approach, following a deep review of existing tobacco regulation, but also best practice across the world,” he said.

“The UK and New Zealand have responded to the specific tactics of big tobacco marketed to their populations, and we will monitor their implementation success with interest.”

The government introduced comprehensive tobacco control reforms in 2023, which included restrictions on vaping sales to anyone without a prescription — among the toughest in the world.

However, the measures have been criticised for inadvertently pushing nicotine users towards the black market, fuelling organised crime, and leading to a rise in gang violence.

Last month, the government announced plans to give investigators further powers to target criminal gangs cashing in on illicit tobacco and vape sales.

Assistant Minister for Customs Julian Hill told the Tobacco and E-cigarette Symposium in Canberra that the country has a “massive problem” with illicit tobacco and that anyone denying it is “either deluded or lying”.

“Cheap smokes are everywhere with a now ridiculously ubiquitous retail distribution network,” he said.

“What used to be seen as a health revenue issue has now morphed into a serious and organised crime crisis.”

A 2024-2025 report by the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner found that more than half of all tobacco products now sold in Australia are illegal.

— With additional reporting by Reuters.

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