this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2026
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  • Technically, the new law will raise the legal age requirement in the UK for buying cigarettes, cigars or tobacco, which is currently 18, by one year in every subsequent year, starting on January 1, 2027
  • This will effectively mean that people born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be eligible to buy them
  • Retailers will face financial penalties for selling the products to those not entitled to them
  • The government will also be empowered to impose a new registration system for smoking and vaping products entering the country, seeking to improve oversight
  • The bill will expand the UK's indoor smoking ban to a series of outdoor public spaces, for instance in children's playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals
  • Most indoor spaces that are designated smoke-free will become vape-free as well
  • Smoking in designated areas outside pubs and bars and other hospitality settings will remain permissible
  • Smoking and vaping will remain legal in people's homes
  • Vaping will become illegal in cars if someone under the age of 18 is inside, to match existing rules on smoking
  • Advertising for smoking and vaping products will be banned
  • People aged 18 or older will remain eligible to purchase vaping products, but some items targeted at younger consumers like disposable vapes have already been outlawed as part of the program
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[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 24 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Did they look at Australia and the colossal failure trying the same thing, and thought "but we will be different"?

[–] MadPsyentist@lemmy.nz 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think you are thinking of New Zealand. The push didnt fail because it was tough, it failed because one of the political parties currently in power ( New Zealand First) has Phillip Morris lobbyists so far up its ass they are breathing for two.

New Zealand First had the law reverted and then Casey Costello, who is Associate Health Minister, gave tax breaks to companies offering "heated tobacco products" which is only Phillip Morris.

Lifted a ban on vapes without removable batteries so Phillip Morris could release their HTP

And the only thing in this blatent corruption scandel that they got in the neck was the handling of some fudged numbers and dodgy conclusions that Miss Costello says she "had no idea where they came from"

Fucken corupt basterds the lot of them

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes, I got the nation wrong, it was New Zealand.

[–] GMac@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

be fair, you also got the failure part wrong too.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 0 points 1 day ago

Not from what I can see.

[–] 8oow3291d@feddit.dk 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

What do you mean? As far as I am aware, Australia has not created such a generational ban law yet, so how can it be a failure?

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] Bloefz@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Hmm the biggest problem with it there was that a new government suddenly overturned it despite not having campaigned on the issue at all.

I don't know if you can take lessons from such a random act.

The article seems to imply the cause was the industry lobby. But really, what could be done differently? If that was indeed the cause, it will be applied to any kind of anti-smoking measure.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 1 points 3 days ago

It was really dead on arrival, and a prohibition is already stupid hard doing one with a moving age gate..... yeah.

[–] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 3 points 2 days ago

New Zealand had this policy but I think it’s been removed.

We have a progressive tax which is largely not working but it’s not so straightforward; for instance illegal imports are dealt with at differing levels across each state which complicates matters.

By and large though Australia’s current approach is definitely failing.