Under the Government’s newly launched Tobacco and Vapes Bill, tobacco sales will be phased out as the legal age of purchase rises each year, meaning that anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco in the UK.
There will also be a ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as a new licensing scheme for retailers that sell tobacco, vaping and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. New enforcement powers will mean the introduction of on-the-spot fines of £200 for retailers found to be breaking age-restricted sales laws.
In a separate piece of legislation introduced by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), it has also been confirmed that single-use vapes will be banned in the UK from 1 June 2025.
According to Government figures, vape usage in England grew by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1% of the British public now buying and using the products. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown, and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive.
The sale of vapes and tobacco products to people under the age of 18 has long been an issue of concern for Trading Standards, as has the illegal sale of non-compliant vapes and vaping liquids.
CTSI has applauded the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with Chief Executive, John Herriman, commenting: “The Trading Standards profession very much welcomes the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and the increase in age of sale for all tobacco products. We stand ready to support businesses to understand their obligations, and take action against anyone who ignores those obligations, as well as being prepared to take action against businesses that flaunt them.
“CTSI has, with key partners, been instrumental in raising awareness of youth vaping and calling for measures to reduce the attractiveness and availability of vaping products to children. We are therefore very pleased to see proposals in the Bill to introduce a licensing scheme and to consult on other appropriate measures that will help ensure a reduction in youth vaping.
“We feel the need to stress once again that enforcement of all these measures will be enabled by proper resourcing of local Trading Standards Services and we look forward to seeing Government’s proposals on this as the Bill passes through parliament.”
The Government describes the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as part of its ‘reform agenda to shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention’. Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ”Unless we act to help people stay healthy, the rising tide of ill health in our society threatens to overwhelm and bankrupt our NHS. Prevention is better than cure.
“This government is taking bold action to create the first smoke-free generation, clamp down on kids getting hooked on nicotine through vapes, and protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke.
“This historic legislation will save thousands of lives and protect the NHS. By building a healthy society, we will also help to build a healthy economy, with fewer people off work sick.
On the single-use vapes ban, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh commented: “Single-use vapes are extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities. That is why we are banning single-use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture.
“This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net-zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said: “It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today.
“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people. Banning these vapes will stop them from being thrown into bins with general waste, where they typically end up in landfill or being incinerated, posing a fire risk due to their lithium-ion batteries and can cause poor air quality. Furthermore, it will stop plastic, lead, and mercury from leaching into the environment, which can cause waterways to be contaminated and poison our wildlife.”
