The Tobacco and Vapes Act passes Royal Assent

After nearly two years of parliamentary back-and-forth, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, making it the Tobacco and Vapes Act. Since it passed, much of the bill has now become UK law.

We’ve been covering this bill since it was introduced back in November 2024, so we wanted to pull together a clear summary of what’s actually in the final Act, and what it means for you as a vaper.

What the Tobacco and Vapes Act Actually Does

The biggest, and probably most interesting of the changes is the generational ban on tobacco sale – making it permanently illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. That’s the big one politically, but honestly, as a vaper, it doesn’t directly affect you. Here’s what does.

Where you can (and can’t) vape

The Act gives governments across the UK the power to designate certain smoke-free public spaces as vape-free too. No specific bans have been introduced yet, but the areas being discussed as initial targets include children’s playgrounds, outside schools, and hospital grounds.

In England at least, the government has said outdoor areas of pubs and bars won’t be included for now. So your beer garden vape isn’t going anywhere immediately.

To be clear – vaping itself isn’t being criminalised. The Act doesn’t penalise you for having or using a vape in a non-restricted area. This is about location restrictions, not possession. Cancer Research UK’s FAQ on the Act is worth a read if you’re hearing conflicting things about this.

The under-18 rules are now tighter

Nicotine vapes have always been off-limits for under-18s. The Act extends that to cover non-nicotine vapes too – formally bringing them under the same rules UK-wide. It also formally classifies nicotine pouches (like NicLeaf) as nicotine products, meaning they’re now subject to the same age-of-sale requirements as vapes.

Retailer licensing is coming

Retailers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will need a licence to sell vapes and nicotine products. There’s no date yet for when this kicks in – importantly, the Act includes a 12-month grace period, meaning the licensing rules can’t come into force until at least a year after the final regulations are published. So there’s time to prepare.

The Local Government Association’s FAQ covers how this is expected to be administered in more detail if you want the finer points.

We’ve always been in favour of a proper licensing scheme, to be honest. Anything that makes it harder for rogue traders to shift illegal, unregulated products is a good thing. If you ever pick up a vape somewhere and you’re not sure it’s genuine, our stores are always happy to help you check.

The gamification crackdown on vapes

This one’s a bit niche but worth knowing: the Act includes powers to regulate the software and technological features of vape devices. This is specifically aimed at “gamified” vapes – things like built-in reward counters or companion apps designed to encourage use. It’s clearly targeted at youth appeal, and we’d agree that kind of feature has no place in the category.

Advertising and free samples are now banned

A comprehensive ban on vape advertising and sponsorship across most platforms will now go into place, mirroring existing tobacco rules. Billboards, television, radio, and sponsorships – will all prohibited. For online sellers, publishing images of products that don’t show the required health warnings is also an offence.

It's currently unknown exactly when this legislation will come into effect, as Gov.uk have so accurately noted "later this year". We're thinking around October this year at the earliest, but that's an educated guess.

Free samples and promotional giveaways are banned too. No more free vapes at events.

Vending machines are gone

Vape vending machines are now prohibited except in-patient mental health facilities. Another one that’s probably fine. However, the ban does not come into effect until 6 months after the ascent, to allow owners to either remove the prohibited stock, or remove the machine entirely.

Fines for breaking the rules

Trading Standards officers in England and Wales can now issue £200 on-the-spot fines for things like underage sales. More serious or repeat offenders can face court fines of up to £2,500, or a Restricted Premises Order – essentially being banned from selling vapes for up to 12 months. Persistent rule-breaking within a two-year window is what typically triggers those bigger consequences.

What about flavours and packaging?

This is the one we’re keeping a close eye on. The Act grants ministers the power to regulate flavours, packaging, and device appearance – but those decisions haven’t been made yet. They’ll come through secondary legislation down the line. Similar to the ban on colourful packaging on cigarettes and tobacco in 2017.

We’ve been clear on this for a long time: flavours matter for adult smokers switching to vaping. Research consistently shows they’re a key reason people successfully make the move away from cigarettes. We’ll continue to make the case for that as secondary legislation is developed.

There may very well be a public consultation on this, so vapers who like their flavours (which is basically all of us) should make their views known if and when the time comes!

What this means for you right now

Honestly, there's not a huge amount of changes overnight. Most of the Act’s restrictions come into force through secondary legislation that hasn’t been written yet. The generational tobacco ban is live, but as a vaper, your day-to-day experience stays the same for now.

What’s on the horizon:

• Retailer licensing regulations (at least a year away from taking effect once published)
• Potential restrictions on where you can vape outdoors (no specific rules yet)
• Possible future decisions on flavours and packaging (secondary legislation, timing unknown)

We’ll keep you updated as the secondary legislation is published. As always, if you have questions about any of this or want to check that what you’re buying is compliant and genuine, our team in-store and online is here to help.

Sources

• Tobacco and Vapes Bill Becomes Law -GOV.UK
• Cancer Research UK -Tobacco and Vapes Act FAQ & Mythbusting
• The Tobacco and Vapes Bill: What You Need to Know -GOV.UK Health Media Blog
• Local Government Association -Tobacco and Vapes Act FAQs
• Tobacco and Vapes Bill -Full Bill Text (Parliament.uk)
• Moodie Davitt Report -House of Commons Vote Coverage