UK Government reintroduce Tobacco & Vapes Bill

Following announcements made in the Kings Speech in July, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has published a reworked UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The Bill introduces a ‘generational ban’ on the sale of tobacco in the UK, alongside new powers to restrict the composition and marketing of Nicotine Vaping Products.

As announced in the draft Bill introduced by the previous government, a ‘generational ban’ will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 1st January 2009 and will come into force from 2027.

Measures also include restrictions on vape flavours and the display, advertising & marketing of vape products, which will also be required to be sold in plain packaging. It is expected that some of the proposals will require additional consultation, as the Bill works its way through the UK Parliament in the coming months.

In addition, the Bill brings forward measures requiring retailers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to join a new licensing scheme in order to legally sell vape, nicotine and tobacco related products. Combined with plans to further limit the public spaces where nicotine, tobacco and vaping can be consumed.  

Registration in Scotland will be extended to include additional goods, such as non-cigarette nicotine and herbal products.    

The ban on single use vapes will be delivered by devolved administrations through separate environmental legislation and is due to come into force on 1st June 2025.

Read the UK Government press release here. Access the Bill (as introduced) by following the link here.