Tobacco and Vapes Bill: What the Smoke-Free Generation Plan Means for Business

The government links the Bill to its aim of shifting healthcare from sickness to prevention. It said smoking claims around 80,000 lives a year in the UK and costs taxpayers £3.1 billion a year, with £18 billion lost in productivity annually.

What the Bill would do

• Smoke-free generation: a ban on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
• Outdoor spaces: powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor settings, with children's playgrounds and areas outside schools and hospitals being considered, subject to consultation. The government is also considering making some smoke-free places vape-free.
• Vapes: a ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, and powers to restrict the flavours, display and packaging of all types of vapes and other nicotine products.
• Retail licensing: powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers selling tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Enforcement: on the spot fines of £200 for retailers found selling these products to people under age.

Related measures

Separately, disposable vapes are due to be banned from 1 June 2025. The legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes was laid in Parliament in October 2024 under environmental law. The government is also exploring standardised packaging for all tobacco products, such as cigars and pipe tobacco.

What it means for business

Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers of tobacco, vapes and nicotine products face a significant change in their regulatory environment. Much of the detail, including the scope of flavour and packaging restrictions, outdoor smoke-free areas and the licensing regime, will be set through consultation and secondary legislation. Businesses should track the Tobacco and Vapes Bill closely as it passes through Parliament, review their marketing and sponsorship arrangements, and prepare age verification and staff training processes for a regime in which the legal age of sale effectively rises each year.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Smoking ban introduced to protect children and most vulnerable
• GOV.UK: Government crackdown on single-use vapes