The 2024-2025 Tobacco and Vaping Bill: A Major Reform for Public Health
The British government has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25 in the House of Commons on November 5, 2024. Described as “the largest public health intervention in a generation,” the bill aims to introduce strict rules to limit the use of tobacco and vaping products, particularly among young people. The initiative comes as tobacco control becomes a government priority, aimed at protecting public health and reducing the medical costs associated with tobacco-related illnesses.
An ambitious bill for a tobacco-free generation
This project follows the broad outlines of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2023-24, tabled in April 2024 under the Conservative government but abandoned following the dissolution of Parliament before the general election.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to ban the sale of cigarettes to the new generation and to regulate vapes more strictly to prevent them targeting children. So, if this bill passes, people born after the 1st January 2009 will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.
Key measures of the text include:
- Ban on the sale of tobacco to individuals born after January 1, 2009.
- A system of licenses for tobacco and vape sales, strengthening control over points of sale.
- New information and product standards requirements to ensure increased transparency.
- Stricter control of the advertising and promotion tobacco and vaping products, thereby limiting their appeal to young people.
- The extension of tobacco and vape free zones, including some outdoor spaces to reduce passive exposure to smoke.
Majority support but lively debates
The project has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 26th November 2025, with a vote of 415 votes for against 47 against. While the overall goal of reducing smoking was widely supported, several concerns were raised regarding individual freedoms, the feasibility of flexible age restrictions and the impact on small businesses.
On the other hand, the provisions aimed at regulate the vaping market have garnered broad support, particularly those concerning flavors, advertising and sponsorshipThe government thus wishes to ensure that vaping remains a risk reduction tool for adult smokers, while preventing young people from easily accessing it.
Amendments and adjustments in committee
The project was then examined in parliamentary committee in January 2025, during 16 sessions including hearings and line-by-line review. Several technical adjustments were adopted, including:
- An amendment to clause 122, aligning Scotland's advertising ecosystem with that of the rest of the UK.
- Two amendments to clauses 168 and 170 to ensure that the Welsh and Northern Irish governments can implement the new rules as intended.
- Clarification on the identification criteria for the purchase of tobacco and vapes.
Rejected proposals and debates on the application of the text
Despite the adjustments, several amendment proposals were rejected:
- Raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 25 (replacing the rule prohibiting sales to people born after 2009) has been withdrawn.
- The possibility of promoting vaping as a smoking cessation tool was debated but withdrawn before the vote.
- Restrictions on outdoor spaces where smoking and vaping would be banned (eg playgrounds, schools) were proposed but rejected.
The clause 46, regarding identity documents used for age verification when purchasing nicotine products, has sparked debate. The government has committed to clarifying this point during the next parliamentary step.
Next step: plenary examination
The date of the next stage, the report to the House of Commons, has not yet been announced. This moment will be crucial to finalise the text before a final vote and transmission to the House of Lords. The main challenge remains to find a balance between reducing smoking, individual freedoms and economic impact on local businesses.
