Current Status:
- The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently in the House of Lords at Report Stage, with scrutiny sessions taking place on 24 February and scheduled to continue on 3 and 5 March 2026
- In the debate held in the House of Lords on 24 February Lord Sharpe of Epsom note that the BRC crime report has noted 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse per day in shops in the year 2024-25, quoting this as a “staggering number” stating that the new measure for the generational tobacco ban could cause more issues.
- The Bill aims to create a “smoke free generation” by prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, while also tightening rules on vape sales, advertising, packaging and flavours. It has already passed through the House of Commons and is progressing toward final stages in the Lords.
- Recent debates in the Lords have included proposed amendments on age verification, raising the legal age to 21, and measures to address youth vaping and waste impacts. These are currently being considered as part of the Report Stage discussions.
→ Join the BRC discussion on 17 March to explore point‑of‑sale display requirements under the regulation. Read more here.
