The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which has now become the Tobacco and Vapes Act, has officially come into play with proposed changes to legislation now confirmed as law. However, the changes in the new bill will be introduced gradually and some areas are still undergoing consultations, so while you may see some differences right away, others will appear more slowly.
The bill was first introduced following the Government’s consultation ‘Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’ in October 2023. Its aims were to reduce youth smoking by introducing a generational tobacco ban as well as gain the power to regulate how nicotine-containing products and vaping products can be displayed and sold.
Further legislation and consultation are needed in some important areas, and we will continue to stay abreast with proposals and changes so that we can share information when it is available.
What are the key proposals and confirmed changes of the Tobacco and Vapes Act?
The generational tobacco ban
This new legislation means that from the 1st of January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco to anyone across the UK who was born on or after the 1 January 2009. It is a key part of the Government’s aims to stop youth smoking.
In October 2026, it became an offence to sell nicotine products to under-18s. Restrictions on free distribution and vending machine sales were also introduced.
Flavour restrictions for vapes
Restrictions on vape flavours were proposed as part of the original bill with an aim to ensure vapes are less appealing to young people. However, since the bill passed to become the Tobacco and Vapes Act the focus has moved away from restricting the flavours themselves and towards restricting flavour descriptors and names.
There was a call for evidence around vape flavours at the end of 2025 and currently, the proposal is subject to a potential UK Government consultation, the date of which is still to be confirmed.
Restrictions on vape packaging
The act also looks to regulate the display of vapes and packaging to ensure that they are not appealing to young people. This means that the packaging, branding, and retail point of sale displays of products that contain nicotine will need to follow restrictions.
A UK Government consultation on packaging ended on the 2nd of October 2026 and the results will shape future regulations.
Restrictions on in-store displays
A ban on advertising and sponsorships for all recreational nicotine products, which includes herbal and heated tobacco, vapes and nicotine pouches as well as cigarettes, will come into play in June 2027.
From October 2026, all nicotine products have also been banned from being sold through vending machines.
Better enforcement
The act will also give illicit vape enforcement squads and trading standards officers greater power to deter irresponsible retailers, with a new set of offences introduced.
A vape licensing scheme
In 2010, Scotland introduced the first retailers’ registration scheme for tobacco. This register was expanded to also include vapes in 2017 and on the 29th of October 2026, it will expand again to recreational nicotine and herbal smoking products. Those who fail to register by 2027 will face a set of specific offences.
Nicotine-free vapes
Under new legislation, nicotine-free vapes will have a minimum age of sale of 18 from the 29th of October 2026.
Other nicotine options
Nicotine pouches and other novel nicotine products – from the 29th of October 2026, it will be illegal to sell nicotine pouches and other novel nicotine products like nicotine strips or nicotine pearls to anyone under the age of 18. These products are also affected by several other changes to the law introduced by the act. For example, they can no longer be sold in vending machines.
Disposable vapes – the disposable vape ban was introduced in 2025. This was not part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act. It was instead introduced as part of the environmental protection act.
Tobacco and Vapes Act: Timeline
29 April 2026: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill received Royal Assent and became the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
29 October 2026: The first set of provisions comes into force, including measures relating to the sale and supply of vaping and nicotine products. This includes making it an offence to sell nicotine products to under-18s and introducing restrictions on free distribution and vending machine sales.
1 January 2027: The “smokefree generation” measure begins. Anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will not ever be legally sold tobacco products. This restriction applies to tobacco products rather than vaping products.
1 June 2027: New advertising and sponsorship restrictions are expected to come into force.
Further changes relating to vape packaging, product appearance, flavour descriptors, and retail displays may be introduced at later dates. These measures are not immediate requirements and will depend on the outcome of consultation and subsequent regulations.
What does the Tobacco and Vapes Act mean for vapers?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act will impact vapers in a few different ways, with changes to packaging and displays potentially changing the way products look. Any restrictions on flavour could also have an effect, by reducing some of the options on offer.
However, one of the key aims of the act, to create a smoke free generation, targets tobacco products rather than vapes. It means that young people born on or after 1 January 2009 will not ever be legally sold tobacco products from January 2027.
What’s more, changes affecting advertising and sponsorships are not expected to start taking effect until June 2027 and many of the vape packaging, product appearance, flavour descriptors, and retails displays still require consultation and the development of suitable regulations before they are introduced.
How will the Tobacco and Vapes Act affect people switching from smoking?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act includes many restrictions around the sale of tobacco and while there are changes for vaping products too, vaping remains a viable, cheaper, and less harmful option than smoking tobacco. As cited by Cancer Research UK, evidence so far shows that vapes are far less harmful than smoking. It is also recognised as one of the most successful tools for giving up smoking, according to the NHS.
Conclusion
The Tobacco and Vapes Act further restricts the sale of tobacco and while it will affect the sale of vapes too, vaping products will continue to be available and offer an alternative to smoking.
FAQ
What is the Tobacco and Vapes Act?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act is a series of measures that have been designed to help create a smokefree generation and protect children from nicotine products. It includes a range of different new legislations, which are being introduced over time.
Has the Tobacco and Vapes Bill become law?
Yes, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is now the Tobacco and Vapes Act, and many elements have already passed into law, with other areas set to become legislation either on a fixed date or following further consultation.
When will the Tobacco and Vapes Act changes start?
The changes set in the Tobacco and Vapes Act have already started, as of October 2026. Various other changes will come into play over the following years.
Will the Tobacco and Vapes Act ban vaping?
No, the Tobacco and Vapes Act will not ban vaping. It will ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, as of January 2027. A variety of other regulations are also being introduced, some of which affect the sale of vapes. For example, vaping products are banned from being sold in vending machines, but vaping itself will not be banned.
Will vape flavours be banned?
It is expected that there may be some changes to the vape flavours on offer as a part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, but rather than removing certain flavours this is likely to just mean changes to the names and flavour descriptors. Restrictions are currently subject to a potential UK Government consultation at a date that is yet to be confirmed.
Will vape packaging change?
Yes, vape packing will change but the exact details around what these changes will look like remains to be seen. A government consultation ended in October 2026, and the information gathered will be used to finalise regulations around packaging.
Will I need to buy a new vape because of the Tobacco and Vapes Act?
No, you will not need to buy a new vape because of the Tobacco and Vapes Act. The rules for buying vapes has not changed for adults and there is no need to buy a new vape purely due to any of the changes introduced by the act.
Will vape shops still sell the same products?
Yes, vape shops will continue to sell the same kind of products following the Tobacco and Vapes act. However, some aspects may change in the future like the way they are displayed, the packaging and the flavour descriptors, depending on the outcome of the government’s consultations.
Does the Tobacco and Vapes Act affect smokers switching to vaping?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act introduces some regulations that will affect the sale of vapes, but it should have minimal impact on smokers switching to vaping. Vaping remains a less harmful nicotine product and is recognised as one of the most successful tools for giving up smoking.