The Tobacco and Vapes Act has now passed through Parliament and become law. The new legislation will ban tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and give the government powers to stop vapes from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children.
This new law is the most impactful public health legislation of a generation and truly a legislation landmark. Not only will it protect the heart health of millions of people in the UK today, but also millions more yet to be born. We’re proud to have campaigned for decades alongside our partners to end the health harms of smoking.
40 UK lives lost daily to smoking-related cardiovascular disease
Smoking remains one of the most lethal and preventable causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our research has shown that, every day, at least 40 people in the UK lose their lives to smoking-related heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular complications.
Smoking makes artery walls sticky, allowing fatty deposits to build up and consequently narrowing them, which forcing the heart to work harder. It increases blood pressure, heart rate, and blood clotting risks whilst reducing oxygen supply significantly elevating the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A landmark moment
“In public health, true landmark moments are rare. This is one of them. For everyone who has lost someone to a smoking-related heart attack or stroke, for every clinician who has seen the toll of tobacco at the bedside, and for every young person who will now grow up free from the harms of smoking - we celebrate this historic achievement.”
“Having advocated for nearly two decades for measures ranging from smokefree indoor spaces to plain packaging, this latest law demonstrates what’s possible when evidence, advocacy and political courage align, positioning the UK as a global frontrunner in tobacco control.
“For the first time, we have taken the courageous decision as a society to prevent future generations from ever legally being sold cigarettes; few public health interventions can claim such sweepingly positive consequences.”
A smokefree generatiom
The creation of a smokefree generation is one of the most consequential interventions in modern times. It is the first occasion on which the UK has acted to ensure that future generations will never legally smoke - a bold and compassionate move.
Smoking remains the single largest contributor to the life‑expectancy gap between England’s most and least deprived areas. The Act has the potential to narrow health disparities that have persisted for decades
The new law is momentous, but to truly make smoking history, we are calling for complementary measures that support current smokers to quit.
How smoking impacts the heart
