A new law preventing anybody born after January 1 2009 from buying tobacco products has been hailed as a major step forward for public health.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 has now received Royal Assent, introducing a generational ban on the sale of tobacco.
The new law will also create more smoke-free places, ban vape advertising and sponsorship and introduce a licensing scheme for retailers.
The age-of-sale measures are expected to come into force on 1 January 2027.
Dr Emma Kain, Director of Public Health for Swindon Borough Council, said: “Today’s Royal Assent marks a defining moment.
"We are firmly on the path to stubbing out the UK’s leading cause of preventable death and building a legacy future generations can be proud of.
"There is still much more work to do, but today we can pause and celebrate just how far we’ve come.
“Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK. We know smoking is highly addictive and so preventing the next generation from ever starting smoking will have huge health benefits.
"If you currently smoke or use tobacco products and would like support in stopping, please contact Swindon’s stop smoking services who will be happy to help.”
Local support for people wishing to stop smoking can be found here.
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