A proposal by the former Tory government to ban young people from ever purchasing tobacco products will be carried forward under the new Labour leadership.
Children born after 1 January 2009 will not be able to purchase nicotine products under a new law (Image: Getty)
A new Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be introduced in line with the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to deliver a progressive smoking ban.
Proposed under former prime minister Rishi Sunak, the aim of the legislation is to prevent the next generation ever being able to legally purchase cigarettes.
Read out by King Charles at the State Opening of Parliament today, the bill will also cover other nicotine products often favoured by young people, including flavoured vapes and nicotine pouches.
In a major update to the progress of the legislation, it has been confirmed that the new restriction on the purchase of nicotine products will apply to children born on or after 1 January 2009.
Vapes, nicotine pouches and other similar products will also be covered under the new law (Image: Getty)
The Tobacco and Vapes bill was included as a key point in the King’s speech given on Wednesday.
Giving the speech in the House of Lords, the King said: “A Bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes.”
The Bill is set to extend across the whole of the UK, although its application may vary across the devolved nations.
The majority of smokers, roughly 80 percent, start before the age of 20, hence the government’s targeted approach on preventing young people developing nicotine addiction in the first instance.
80% of smokers start before the age of 20 (Image: Getty)
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In addition to the new age restriction, the Labour government is expected to clamp down on the branding and advertising of nicotine products.
The Tobacco and Vapes bill will provide Ministers with powers to regulate flavours, packaging and displays of vapes, nicotine pouches and other similar products.
Trading Standards will act as a key enforcement body to prevent the sale of tobacco and vapes to children born after the date specified.
Authorities in England and Wales will be directed to issue fixed penalty notices for the underage sale of nicotine products.
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