U.K.’s Government Proposes Generational Tobacco Ban, Plain Packaging & More (Update)

The British government has introduced its updated Tobacco and Vapes Bill. While it backs off controversial plans to ban smoking in outdoor pubs, if passed, the proposed legislation would make the United Kingdom one of the strictest anti-tobacco countries in the world.

Most notably, the bill would introduce a generational tobacco ban. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009 would be banned from ever purchasing tobacco and vaping products in the U.K.

Update (Nov. 27, 2024) — The Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed a second reading by a 415-47 vote. It now heads to the committee stage, when changes to the bill can be made before a third reading.

This part of the proposal is not new.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced last year, when the U.K.’s Parliament was controlled by the Conservative Party. After major losses in July, the left-leaning Labour Party took control of government. Given that Labour was inherently more supportive of anti-tobacco measures than the Conservatives, it was no surprise that Labour took up the cause.

However, it’s not stopping with the generational tobacco ban.

Also included in the updated proposal:

• Plain packaging for all tobacco products
• Banning flavored vapes
• New licenses for retailers that include a £200 fine for underage sales
• Banning outdoor smoking in certain places, such as playgrounds, outside schools and outside hospitals

While there was chatter that cigars could receive favorable treatment from the Conservatives—to be clear, nothing ever came of this—the European Cigar Manufacturers Association (ECMA) told halfwheel that it does not believe there are any exemptions for cigars. In fact, a press release explicitly mentions cigars regarding plain packaging.

Also explicitly mentioned is a line that this bill will not ban smoking in the outside areas of pubs and bars, something that was informally proposed a few months ago and met with widespread criticism.

The proposed restrictions, combined with a separate bill that will ban disposable vapes next year and the U.K.’s higher tobacco taxes, would make the country one of the least friendly places for tobacco and vaping products in the world.

“ECMA will continue to fight to make sure that cigars, products consumed by a minority on an occasional basis by adult connoisseurs, will continue to be treated differently,” said Paul Varakas, director general of the ECMA, in a statement to halfwheel. “It is unimaginable that the country of Winston Churchill will impose such restrictions for products that are predominantly sold in specialist shops where access to young people is restricted. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is time to act to stop this madness”.

As of now, this bill is still a proposal. No date has been scheduled for its second reading.

Update (Nov. 27, 2024) — The bill passed a second reading. This story has been updated. It was originally published on Nov. 5, 2024.