Tobacco control: the United Kingdom is about to take a historic step

In the United Kingdom, both houses of Parliament have approved in recent days the bill to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born from 2009 onwards. While there are still some steps to be taken before the law is finally passed, the UK is expected to be one of the first countries in the world to implement this measure.

The sale of tobacco is prohibited for anyone born from 2009 onwards.

The bill aims to ban the sale of tobacco or herbal smoking products, as well as the sale of cigarette papers, to anyone born on or after January 1st.^er January 2009[1]. Through a generational ban, this measure would effectively allow the United Kingdom to gradually phase out smoking. Nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes, are not included in the measure. Having passed its third reading in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the bill now requires final agreement between the two houses to receive Royal Assent and thus be definitively adopted as law. After the Maldives, The United Kingdom would be one of the first countries in the world to implement this public health measure. In New Zealand, the generational ban was adopted in 2022., before being repealed in 2024, following a change of majority more susceptible to the influence of the tobacco industry.

A French bill drafted with the same objective

In France, a similar bill is being put forward by MP Nicolas Thierry (Ecologist and Socialist) and the Contre-Feu alliance, which brings together civil society actors involved in the fight against smoking.[2]. The bill, tabled in November 2025, aims to ban the sale of all tobacco products to people born from 2014 onwards, with the goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2032. Currently, the bill has received the signatures of 35 French parliamentarians.

Smoking rates are declining sharply in the United Kingdom

The UK's proposed legislation comes within a general context of a sharp decline in smoking over the past several years. According to publicly available data, the smoking prevalence among 16-year-olds and over was projected to be 16.6 per 100,000 smokers in 2025, compared to 24.8 per 100,000 smokers in 2007.[3]. Over the same period, the prevalence of daily cigarette smoking was halved, falling from 21.5% to 10.6%. It is also noteworthy that over a third of UK smokers had sought to quit smoking by 2025, with 28.6% reporting success – nearly one million people. The data also show that young adults are more likely to engage in a smoking cessation process, with over 44% of 18-24 year-old smokers reporting having tried to quit by 2025.

A strengthened regulatory framework for nicotine products

Although the bill does not include a generational ban on other nicotine products, both chambers approved the need to strengthen regulations concerning these new products.

In particular, the law aims to ban advertising for all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. To reduce their appeal, especially to young people, the proposed law empowers the government to limit the flavors permitted for e-cigarettes, set maximum nicotine concentrations, and impose regulations on product presentation and packaging. Furthermore, the law's adoption would prohibit the free distribution of e-cigarettes and their sale through vending machines, as well as ban adults from purchasing them for minors. The legislation also seeks to establish a licensing system for the sale of tobacco and nicotine products and to strengthen controls on retailers. Finally, the text proposes expanding the areas where the consumption of these products is prohibited, while distinguishing between traditional tobacco products, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes.

A tax on vaping starting in autumn 2026

From 1^er In October 2026, the United Kingdom will introduce a tax on vaping products, applied to liquids containing nicotine.[4]. The tax is set at £2.20 per milliliter of e-liquid, regardless of its nicotine content (€2.55). This measure, introduced by the British government as part of the budget bill, is expected to generate an additional £135 million in revenue in 2026-2027, and over £400 million in subsequent years. According to the government, the introduction of this tax aims to encourage heavy users to reduce their consumption, while keeping vaping more accessible than tobacco products.

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[1] UK Parliament, Tobacco and Vapes Bill, 10/03/2026, (accessed 11/03/2026)

[2] National Assembly, Bill No. 2101 for a tobacco-free generation, 18/11/2025, (accessed 11/03/2026)

[3] Smoking in England, Top-line findings on smoking in England from the Smoking Toolkit Study, 11/03/2026, (accessed the same day)

[4] London loves business., UK to introduce £2.20 flat-rate Vaping Products Duty from October 2026, 10/03/2026, (accessed 11/03/2026)