A proposed generational smoking ban has edged nearer to becoming law after the House of Lords rejected an attempt to derail the measure.
The landmark legislation, part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aims to create a “smoke-free generation” by increasing the legal age for buying tobacco by one year every year, starting in 2027. This means those born on or after 1 January 2009 will be prohibited from ever buying tobacco.
On 24 February, peers in the House of Lords voted on an amendment which sought to remove the measure and instead raise the legal age for tobacco and vape sales to 21.
The amendment was defeated by 246 votes to 78.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Murray of Blidworth challenged the proposed legislation: “A generational ban may sound like a progressive step to protect public health, but it is de facto prohibition, and there remains no evidence anywhere in the world that prohibition of a long-standing legal product has ever worked.”
Murray claimed the generational smoking ban would have “significant impact” on retailers and “fall entirely on their shoulders”.
“Crimes against retailers are already at epidemic levels, and many independent shopkeepers are scared about the impact that a generational ban will have on their business and the safety of their staff,” he said.
“They will have to navigate the new legal-age threshold, which will change every year and be different from the threshold for other age-limited goods - for example, alcohol. One clear potential effect of the proposed ban is that many small local shops will struggle to remain viable in the face of increased competition from the untaxed, unregulated black market.
“I fear that many neighbourhood shops will close as a result of this policy.”
According to a JTI survey, many independent retailers viewed an increase in the minimum purchase age to 21 as a “viable alternative” to a generational smoking ban.
When Convenience Store last spoke to Londis retailer Nishi Patel about the proposed legislation, he said: “I have spoken to a few older retailers who said they would just shut shops, sell up and that they’re not going to deal with it all.
”The main issue is that tobacco is going to be pushed under into black market sales. It’s not going to stop people smoking if they want to smoke they can just go and buy it cheaper somewhere else.”
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of consumers said they were against the generational smoking ban, a recent poll by Whitestone Insight has revealed.
You can now secure your tickets to the Convenience Awards 2026!
Join us on 11 March in Liverpool to celebrate the entire convenience community.
See this year’s finalists and book your seat here.
No comments yet