A smoking ban for people born after 2008 may be on the cusp of becoming law in the U.K. Here’s what to know
This ban applies to various tobacco products and also seeks to beef up existing laws that restrict the sale and marketing of vapes to children
By Adam Kovac edited by Claire Cameron
AndreyPopov/Getty Images
Join Our Community of Science Lovers!
The U.K. is set to ban people born since 2008 from purchasing tobacco products such as cigarettes. Lawmakers approved the amendments to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on April 20, although it is unclear when the legislation will take affect.
As a result, it will become illegal in the U.K. to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, in England and Wales. These products include cigarette paper and herbal smoking products. The ban also forbids the sale of cigarettes that aren’t in their original packaging.
Vapes are not subject to the ban, but laws restricting the sale of vapes and nicotine products will be strengthened under the new legislation, as will bans on smoking in public places.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The goal, according to the U.K. government, is to “create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country and breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.”
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.K. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that cigarettes cause about one in five deaths each year. In the U.S., the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including vapes, is 21; smoking bans and other laws further regulating the sale of cigarettes are generally left up to individual states.
The global antismoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health praised the U.K.’s new legislation.
“This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain—it’s inevitable. And the focus now is on how soon we get there,” said Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, in a statement to media.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.