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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[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 33 points 2 days ago (17 children)

I don't smoke, but this is stupid.

You can't save people from themselves.

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[–] Asfalttikyntaja@sopuli.xyz 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh yes, we have seen how effective prohibition laws are working. Good luck with that one. And to all of you four-eyed, I have never smoked and never will.

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[–] ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago (7 children)

“UK mandates teenagers must shop with their local drug dealer for tobacco products”

Might as well buy some weed or pills whilst you’re there, “save a trip”

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[–] fira@lemmy.today 10 points 2 days ago

Chalk up another imminent failure for the war on drugs

[–] smiletolerantly@awful.systems 35 points 2 days ago (18 children)

Comments in here really trying to argue for big tobacco, just because they don't like the word "ban". Edgy contrarians.

A lot of what has been coming from the UK government has been shit, but this is just plain GOOD. There's no reason anyone should be smoking. This law prevents a new generation from becoming smokers. "Education" alone clearly hasn't worked well enough.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago (11 children)

This law prevents a new generation from becoming smokers.

Well, a good thing drugs were banned a long time ago, so that no-one who was born after the 70's can become drug abusers.

Prohibitions don't work. People aren't arguing for "big tobacco", lol, they're using common sense.

Regulation works, prohibition doesn't. Even heavy regulation. However a complete ban will not. Not with substances. My evidence; literally any history from anywhere. Look at what happened with alcohol prohibition.

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[–] alakey@piefed.social 28 points 2 days ago (2 children)

More like you are falling for yet another blanket ban as a viable solution to anything. Younger gens are significantly less into smoking and drinking? Oh, I know! Let's turn it miles more enticing by making it a taboo!

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's OK, nobody born after that will be able to afford them.

There's a reason vapes got popular, and part of that is a pack of 20 ciggies costing £15+.

So now everyone smells of either fruit salads or weed.

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[–] bridgeburner@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago (7 children)

Let's see. Making tobacco illegal means the black market will florish. And then the government can't regulate the quality. Kinda what we already have with Cannabis. A lot of countries legalize Cannabis so that buyers can be sure it is of proper quality and not mixed with dangerous substances. Yes, smoking is bad and that's why it should be expensive in order to discourage people from smoking. And a lot of public spaces should be smoke-free as well so that non-smokers are affected by smokers as little as possible. Banning something completely can go fully in the opposite way, just look what the Prohibition back in the US did with regards to Alcohol.

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[–] m4xie@lemmy.ca 19 points 2 days ago (3 children)

It seems a little arbitrary that they can deny rights to a voting tax-paying 27 year old that they give to a 28 year old.

Can they ban Capricorns from riding motorcycles? It's actually for their own good, those things are dangerous!

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