The UK is about to start an experiment that could end smoking for good – but it won’t be easy

Anyone born after January 1 2009 will never be able to legally buy tobacco in the UK thanks to the tobacco and vapes bill, which is expected to become law in March 2026. When it does, it will mean that the legal age for tobacco sales will rise by one year every year from 2027 onwards.

I have spent much of my career working on smoking cessation and prevention, including supporting the roll out of England’s indoor smoking ban and leading local health improvement programmes. In 2006, a man once called me a “leftwing, do-gooder, fascist bitch!” after I spoke in the media in support of that ban. He wasn’t the only one to object.

The introduction of the new legislation will likely trigger similarly fierce opposition from supporters of the tobacco lobby. But this time, their arguments may be harder to land.

The government’s aim is to create a “smokefree generation”. The bill will not ban smoking outright, nor affect current smokers. Instead, it will gradually phase out legal sales to younger generations.

From a public health perspective, the logic is well established. Most smokers begin when they are young, and preventing uptake has long been the most effective way to reduce smoking rates. The policy is designed to stop new people starting, including the 127,500 young adults (aged 18 to 25) who take up smoking each year in the UK.

The world will be watching. Aside from the Maldives, the UK is now among the few nations proposing laws aimed at creating a smokefree generation. A similar approach was planned in New Zealand, but it was scrapped following a change of government. There were also reports of sustained lobbying against the new policy.

Those of us working in tobacco control recognise this pattern. Expect warnings about losing £8 billion in tobacco tax receipts, despite the far higher economic costs of smoking through its impact on the NHS, social care and productivity. It is claimed that legal challenges have already begun seeking to undermine the generational approach.

Attempts to invoke fears of a “nanny state” are inevitable. In practice, this argument often centres on defending young people’s right to buy tobacco, a position that has become harder to sustain as evidence of harm has accumulated.

The legislation will initially apply to those aged 18 and under, before extending year by year. Current smokers would not be directly affected. This helps explain the strong public backing for the policy. Opinion polls show support from over two-thirds of the UK population, including many people who smoke.

Enforcement

Responsibility for enforcing tobacco sales laws sits largely with local Trading Standards teams. They inspect retailers, investigate illegal sales and take action against non-compliance, including fines and prosecutions. However, these services have faced years of cuts and staff shortages, limiting their capacity.

From a public health delivery perspective, enforcement is where legislation succeeds or fails. If capacity is weak, rogue retailers may continue to profit from illegal tobacco sales, undermining the policy’s intent.

A recently announced £10 million investment in Trading Standards should strengthen their ability to act, but sustained resourcing will be essential if the law is to work as intended once in force.

Other concerns centre on changes to vaping regulation. The bill introduces new powers to restrict flavours and advertising, and vaping may be banned in some outdoor spaces. These measures aim to reduce the appeal of vaping to children. However, some fear they could also discourage adults from switching away from cigarettes.

Vaping currently plays a significant role in smoking cessation in the UK. Research evidence suggests it can be more effective than standard nicotine replacement therapy for quitting. Policymakers have attempted to balance youth protection with harm reduction, and vaping products will remain widely available. Debate will continue over whether the new restrictions strike the right balance or risk slowing the shift away from smoking.

Whether the UK will achieve a “smokefree generation” is not guaranteed. The legislation will need to be backed by effective enforcement, sustained investment in local public health services and continued support for smoking cessation once it becomes law.

Even so, it represents a significant step forward. The policy is grounded in prevention, supported by public opinion and informed by decades of tobacco control research and practice. If enforcement and cessation support keep pace with legislative ambition, the UK has reason to be cautiously optimistic that this could mark the beginning of a long-term endgame for tobacco.

Lisa McNally is responsible for managing public health budgets received by her employer from the UK Government . She is employed by Worcestershire County Council and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham.