UK tobacco ban to create smoke-free generation

ANYONE BORN after 2008 will be banned from buying cigarettes or vapes for life in the UK when a new bill becomes law. The landmark legislation aims to stop anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, from taking up smoking or vaping by making it illegal to sell them tobacco products. The bill aims to create a smoke-free generation and is part of a suite of measures aimed at tackling the health effects of smoking. Peak bodies for health and groups that advocate for quitting tobacco say a change like this would be welcomed in Australia but much would need to be done to stamp out the thriving illegal tobacco trade first. Under the UK bill, it will be illegal for anyone currently aged 17 or under to ever buy cigarettes in the UK. The ban will come into effect on January 1, 2027. The UK government says it will close loopholes and ban the sale of all vapes and nicotine products to under 18s, as well as ban the free distribution of these products and their sale from vending machines. In Australia, the Cancer Council’s National Tobacco Issues Committee chair Alecia Brooks said it was always encouraging to see new policies internationally developed to protect new generations from taking up tobacco use. “The United Kingdom’s move to ban people born after 2008 from ever starting smoking is a significant opportunity for governments across the world to think about what the future of tobacco control may look like, particularly when it comes to protecting young people from tobacco and nicotine,” she said. Ms Brooks said there had already been major change in Australia, which had curbed smoking rates, particularly with recent laws to restrict the sale of vapes outside of a pharmacy environment. “National data shows that the number of 14 to 17-year-olds who have never vaped has increased to 85 per cent compared to 82 per cent in early 2023,” she said. “Additionally, data also shows that young people in 2025 who have never smoked is at its highest ever level at 94 per cent.” CHECK OUT THE LATEST EDITION OF THE WEEKLY TIMES BY CLICKING BELOW! window.df_option_74255 = {"source":"https:\/\/www.weeklytimes.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TWT290426.pdf","outline":[],"overwritePDFOutline":false,"pageSize":"0","slug":"the-weekly-times-29th-april-2026","wpOptions":"true","id":74255}; if(window.DFLIP && window.DFLIP.parseBooks){window.DFLIP.parseBooks();} The post UK tobacco ban to create smoke-free generation appeared first on THE WEEKLY TIMES.