New smoking rules explained - where vapes are banned and tobacco rules for young people

New smoking rules explained - where vapes are banned and tobacco rules for young peopleAnyone born after January 1, 2009 will never be able to buy cigarettes legally in Britain under new plans approved by MPs - while new rules are coming into force on vapes and nicotine pouchesCommentsNewsBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas News Reporter17:20, 21 Apr 2026Updated 17:51, 21 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesAn end to smoking in the UK is 'inevitable' say campaigners after a landmark ban was approved (Image: ullstein bild via Getty Images)Delighted campaigners have said an end to smoking in Britain is now "inevitable" after MPs and Lords approved a landmark ban.‌Anyone born after January 1, 2009 will never be able to buy cigarettes legally in the UK under the new rules set out in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which now just needs Royal Assent to become law.‌The government said the move, introduced alongside a set of sweeping new regulations on nicotine products, aims to create a "smoke-free generation" and eliminate one of the UK's leading causes of preventable death.‌Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health, told the Mirror: "This is a decisive turning point for public health. The end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain - it’s inevitable, and the focus now is on how soon we get there."Here's everything you need to know about what you can and can't do under the new rules:READ MORE: Woman, 22, has cancer and 18 months to live after vaping since age of 15READ MORE: Advanced warning for smokers and vapers as huge price increase comingView 5 ImagesNew restrictions on vapes are also being brought in(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)‌What you can't doYou will not be able to buy cigarettes or other tobacco products if you are 17 or younger todayUnder the "unprecedented" new rules, anyone born after January 1, 2009 will never be able to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco p...