The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has completed its journey through Parliament and is now set to become law. 

This is one of the most significant public health achievements of our time. It’s also quite nuanced. The law will gradually raise the age of sale of tobacco in the UK to help protect future generations from the harms of smoking, but it doesn’t apply to adults who can legally be sold tobacco today, and it doesn’t criminalise tobacco use. 

Here, we’re answering the biggest questions around the Bill, and busting some myths along the way. 

What is the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? 

At the centre of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a law that will raise the age of sale of tobacco (currently 18) by one year every year, starting in 2027. This will mean no one born on or after 1 January 2009 can never be legally sold tobacco in the UK. 

The law will not criminalise smoking, so no one will be penalised for buying, possessing or using tobacco. 

The Bill will also give governments across the UK powers to expand smokefree places, introduce vape-free places, require retailers to have a licence to sell vapes, and regulate vape flavours, packaging and displays.

What tobacco products does the Bill cover? 

The legislation raises the age of sale for all products that contain tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, shisha, and heated tobacco. It also includes herbal smoking products and smoking accessories like cigarette papers.  

Does this affect adults who currently smoke? Is it a ban? 

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill isn’t a ban on smoking for adults who can currently smoke. It will gradually raise the sale to make it illegal to sell tobacco products to people born on or after 1 January 2009. 

While this could help create the UK’s first smokefree generation, there are still millions of people who currently smoke and need support to quit. That’s why Cancer Research UK is also advocating for sufficient and sustained support to help people who smoke stop for good. 

Do that many people smoke anymore? 

Around 5.3 million people in the UK still smoke, or slightly more than 1 in 10 adults. And it’s not just older generations – around 2,600 18 to 25-year-olds in the UK start smoking every week. 

Is this an example of a nanny state law? Shouldn’t people have a right to choose? 

Smoking is an addiction, and there’s no choice in addiction.  

Stats from England show that around eight in 10 people who smoke have tried to quit. And most people who smoke became addicted at a young age, with nine in 10 people who smoke starting before the age of 21. 

Tobacco isn’t like other consumer products. It’s the only one that, when used exactly as intended by its manufacturer, will kill most of its users. Two out of three people who smoke will die from smoking. 

It’s also important to note that the age of sale legislation is not the same as criminalising smoking. It doesn’t make using tobacco illegal and will not affect anyone currently able to legally buy it. Instead, it gradually raises the age of sale of tobacco to help prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to a deadly product. 

Won’t this just create a black market for tobacco?  

Similar claims were made about previous tobacco control measures and were proved wrong.  

The introduction of tobacco control policies like the 2007 ban on smoking in indoor public spaces and the 2015 standardised packaging regulations did not lead to an increase in illicit sales, thanks in part to effective enforcement. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) also reported that when the tobacco age of sale increased from 16 to 18 in 2007, it had no impact on black market sales.  

Because the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will only gradually increase the age of sale, it’s even less likely to increase illicit sales. But strong enforcement across all four nations in the UK will still be critical for ensuring it’s effective. That will mean providing consistent and adequate funding for enforcement agencies like Trading Standards and Border Force. 

Won’t the UK lose out on tax revenue from smoking? 

ASH estimates that the effects of tobacco cost England £44 billion each year, far outweighing the £7 billion income from taxes on tobacco products.  

That total estimate includes £27.6 billion in lost productivity, £1.82 billion on treating smoking-related disease in the NHS, and £13.9 billion in social care costs. Reducing smoking rates will save lives and help to reduce the long-term pressures on the health system. 

How will retailers know who they can sell tobacco to? Will everyone have to show ID? 

Retailers will continue to use age verification in the same way they do now. The only change is that the age of sale will increase by one year each year. Clear guidance will be provided to retailers before the law comes into effect. 

Polling from ASH shows that over half of retailers in England and Wales support raising the age of sale by one year every year. 

It’s called the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, so what about vaping? 

The law also includes a range of measures to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to young people. It will give the Government powers to introduce vape-free places, and to regulate flavours, packaging and displays. 

Evidence so far shows that vapes are far less harmful than smoking and can help people quit. However, as they are a relatively new product, their long-term impacts are unknown, and they can’t be considered risk-free. Therefore, they shouldn’t be used by people who don’t smoke, especially not young people. 

We support balanced, evidence-based regulation on vapes that maximises their role in helping people stop smoking while minimising uptake among people who have never smoked. 

Is there evidence that vaping causes cancer? 

There is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer. Some studies have generated headlines, but most of them were carried out in animals or cells in a lab. While these studies can be helpful, it takes large, good-quality studies of humans in the real world to confirm that something is a risk factor for cancer.  

Evidence to date shows that vaping is far less harmful than smoking tobacco and can help people to stop smoking. While the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, the damage caused by smoking is indisputable – tobacco causes around 40,700 cancer deaths in the UK every year, more than anything else. 

Could a future government reverse this law after it passes? 

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed with overwhelming support in Parliament and will very soon become law. Our recent polling also found that 72% of people support raising the age of sale of tobacco products.  

Repealing the Bill once it has become law would mean reversing a landmark, evidence-based public health measure that will tackle the leading cause of cancer and help reduce pressure on the NHS. It would be an unpopular and regressive step which would benefit the profits of the tobacco industry whilst damaging the health of the nation. 

Cancer Research UK will continue to work with politicians across parties to ensure this world-leading legislation is protected and delivered effectively.

What next? What does this mean for alcohol and junk food?  

Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer in the UK. It causes at least 16 different types of cancer, amounting to around 57,700 cases in the UK every year. As such, it’s a key priority area for Cancer Research UK.  

Obesity and alcohol can also cause cancer and Cancer Research UK continues to work on these risk factors to help people live healthier lives. 

For example, to tackle rising obesity rates, governments in all four UK nations need to take bold, coordinated action – including implementing measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of junk foods, introducing mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales, and making nutritious food more accessible to everyone. 

What support is available for people who currently smoke? 

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, and there are a range of tools and services to help you succeed. 

Smoking is addictive, and we know it can be hard to stop. Giving up for good might take a few attempts or involve trying different methods. 

For the best chance of success, get support from your free local stop smoking service. You can find out more on our Stop smoking pages.